Agitation continues to press for withdrawal of smart metre and hike in power tariff, Khowai hit by movement

By Our Correspondent

Khowai, July 19, 2025

A statewide agitation and protest is on in different parts of the state, launched by the opposition CPI (M) and Congress demanding withdrawal of newly introduced smart metre and hike in power tariff. While the agitation is on with varying degrees of intensity , depending on the strength of the opposition party leading it , it has gained in momentum in Khowai subdivision.

A massive procession and a protest meeting was organised by the CPI (M) in Khowai town today. The procession had started from the Subhas Park area of Khowai town. It meandered through various areas of the town before converging on the place in front of the TSECL branch office in Khowai. The procession was led by the CPI (M) district secretary in Khowai Padma Kumar Debbarma, party MLA Nirmal Biswas, CPI (M) district committee member Palash Bhowmik and other leading lights of the party.

In the meeting held in front of the TSECL branch in Khowai the CPI (M) leaders condemned the decisions to introduce smart metre and hike power tariff , terming it as a burden on the poor people of the state. “It is strange that the BJP is opposing the introduction of smart metre in West Bengal but the party’s government here is doing exactly what it is opposing it in West Bengal ; the seven years of BJP’s misrule in Tripura has led to near collapse of the power sector which was quite vibrant during left rule ; the TSECL is unable to prevent power theft, transmission loss and collect long-overdue bills from the government departments but is trying to pass the burden of loss on the poor and ordinary consumers” said former CPI (M) MLA and Khowai district committee secretary Padma Kumar Debbarma.

He warned that unless the decisions to introduce smart metre and hike in tariff are revoked there will be a statewide agitation. The state Congress leadership have also launched an agitational programme on their own to press for withdrawal of smart metre as well as the hiked tariff even as a separate protest programme on the twin demands was organised by the CPI (M) west district committee under the leadership of former MLA Ratan Das.

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