PDD installs smart meters on trees in Pulwama’s Koil village

PULWAMA — In the absence of proper power infrastructure such as electric poles, the Power Development Department has installed smart meters on trees in Pulwama’s Koil village, residents said.

The residents of the area told the news agency KNO that the department has funds to install smart meters but they have no funds to upgrade basic infrastructure in the area.

Mudasir Ahmad, a local resident, said that installing smart meters on trees, wooden logs and HT poles poses a risk of fire and other untoward incidents in the area. He said that around two dozen poles were sanctioned for the area four years ago but just two were installed besides that LT wire has been lying in the area for a long time.

Locals said that they had brought the issue to the notice of concerned authorities several times to no avail.

They requested concerned authorities to look into the matter and conduct an in-depth inquiry to find out why infrastructure hasn’t been upgraded in the area and why poles and wire sanctioned for the area haven’t been installed as of now.

The pictures and videos of smart meters installed on trees were splashed on social media following which authorities have issued an advisory that no smart meters shall be installed on wooden poles and trees.

“REC PDCL (PIA) is hereby advised to direct the TKCs (Techno & Anvil) to ensure that Smart Meters are installed on KPDCL Poles as per Standard Operating Procedure. No Smart Meter will be installed on wooden poles or trees under the PMDP or upcoming Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), anywhere in Kashmir Division,” reads an advisory issued by Managing Director KPDCL.

“Further, all Smart Meters to be installed shall be in close coordination and under intimation to the concerned Executive Engineers of Electric Divisions and SDOs of KPDCL Subdivisions,” Advisory states further.

“The above direction shall be implemented in letter and spirit,” it said.