NONGPOH, June 29: The KSU has urged Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner RM Kurbah to immediately halt the implementation of the Smart Meter Project in Ri Bhoi, alleging that MeECL and the company allotted for the project implementation, M/s Satnam Global Infra Projects Ltd (JV), violated the government order that prohibits holding of trainings, meetings etc., in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a letter to the DC, the Union said, “As per reports received from the meter readers based in different parts of Ri Bhoi, it was learnt that they were forced to attend a training programme which was held at Umiam recently regarding the implementation of this new energy billing system in spite of movement restrictions imposed by your administration.”
Maintaining that people from Ri Bhoi should be made aware of the project before its implementation, the KSU said, “It was also learnt that the MeECL, during the training held at Umiam, had instructed the meter readers of Ri Bhoi district to use their personal android devices (cell phones) as the implementing company and the MeECL could not provide them the required hardware and devices to be used for the smart meter projects.”
