31-07-2025
CPI(M) collects signatures against smart meters in Tirupati
The Communist Party of India–Marxist leaders on Thursday organised a programme to collect signatures for a public referendum against smart prepaid meters at Yashoda Nagar Community Hall in Tirupati.
'Andhra Pradesh government is trying to rob people in the name of smart meters. Adani Transmission Step Seven Limited has started installing their devices and removing old meters at two crore houses in the State,' CPM district Secretary Vandavasi Nagaraju said.
Adani company employees are installing smart prepaid meters when no one is available in the house, he added. The CPM has been protesting against this for the past two months as a part of the State-wide agitation under the auspices of the Left parties.
CPI Executive Member N.D. Ravi said, 'Minister for Energy Gottipati Ravikumar had instructed the officials recently not to install smart meters without the consent of the people, while Chief Secretary K. Vidyanand directed the officials to complete the installation of smart meters soon.'
If smart meters are fixed, the big companies in the country will take money from the people in the form of advances worth ₹23 lakh crore,' he said and urged the public to oppose the installation of the smart meters.
