HYDERABAD: Angry residents of Jangammet, Falaknuma thwarted the attempts of officials from Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company Limited (APCPDCL) to erect pole-mounted meters in their locality on Saturday afternoon.

Majlees-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen MP Assasuddin Owaisi and Kanchanbagh Corporator Jameeluddin Ahmed, along with their supporters, also joined the protests to prevent officials from completing the exercise.

Several residents of the colony allegedly smashed the already existing pole-mounted meters in the locality. They also destroyed the new mounted boxes brought by the officials to erect them onto the poles.

Talks held

The locals raised slogans against the officials for taking up the project of pole-mounted meters. Amidst tension and bedlam, Mr. Owaisi held talks with the APCPDCL officials and dissuaded them from continuing with the work.

Tense situation prevailed in the locality with the residents and MIM activists refusing to relent. A police party of Chatrinaka also arrived to intervene and control the mob-like attitude of the local residents.

The locals pointed out that pole-mounted meters had no security and anybody can tamper with them. "They should first keep a meter inside our homes and then another one on the pole. Then only we could get to know the difference between the two. We can't let this happen to us," said the Kanchanbagh Corporator.

"They have not taken any of the residents into confidence before embarking on such a project. We will not allow them to take it up because we feel anybody can tamper with the power meters if they are mounted on top of a pole," says another resident Asif Yaar Khan.

Losses reduced

So far, the distribution company has erected about 20,269 meter boxes and 1,08,008 power connections have been transferred to pole mounted boxes in Hyderabad South, North and Central circles.

Before erection of pole mounted meters, average power losses incurred by the company was at 52.75 per cent. However, after erection of pole-mounted meter boxes, the losses have gone down to 29 per cent.

"They threatened us with dire consequences if we take up the works. In the heat of the moment, some of the local residents even destroyed the already existing power meters," said APCPDCL's Assistant Engineer for Falaknuma Rajender Singh.

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