By TC News Desk
Agartala, 23rd June 2025: Over a hundred aggrieved residents from Ishan Chandranagar and Netaji Subhash Chandra Nagar gram panchayats stormed the Belonia Electricity Corporation office today alleging exorbitant electricity bills following the installation of smart meters.
The protest, marked by visible frustration and desperation, was triggered by what locals described as “ghostly bills” monthly charges that have reportedly surged from Rs 300 to Rs 500 to an alarming Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000. For many daily wage earners, this represents four to five times their monthly income, pushing families into financial distress.
“We are not against smart meters. But how can a family that earns ₹4,000 a month pay a ₹5,000 electricity bill? It’s absurd,” said Ratan Das, a resident of Ishan Chandranagar.
According to eyewitnesses, tensions escalated when the senior manager of the electricity office allegedly fled the scene, prompting protestors to surround Engineer Sukanta Chakraborty and demand answers. “We were forced to confront him because no one else would listen,” said another protestor.
The smart meter rollout, part of a broader government initiative to modernize power infrastructure, has sparked similar concerns in other regions. In Bihar’s Purnia district, for instance, the power department launched a mobile app to help consumers monitor usage and billing in real time, following widespread confusion over inflated bills.
Despite repeated appeals, residents claim the power department has failed to offer a satisfactory explanation or resolution. “We are ready to pay for what we use,” said homemaker Minati Paul. “But we will not pay inflated bills based on faulty data.”
The protestors have warned that if the issue remains unresolved, they will escalate the matter by submitting a mass petition to the Union and State Power Ministers.
As the dust settles in Belonia, all eyes are now on the Power department’s next move and whether it will bring clarity or further chaos.
