# Betul Residents Protest Against ‘Exorbitant’ Smart Meter Bills; Congress Demands Immediate Review
**BETUL, MADHYA PRADESH** – Tensions over utility costs escalated in Betul’s Bhainsdehi block on Monday, as local Congress leaders and residents staged a massive protest against the installation of smart electricity meters and a sudden surge in billing amounts.
The demonstration, which saw a large contingent of party workers march through the streets, culminated in a formal memorandum submitted to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), addressed to the District Collector. The protesters have demanded an immediate audit of the new billing system and the removal of smart meters, which they claim are recording inaccurate and inflated consumption data.
### Allegations of Financial Burden
The protest was spearheaded by Tribal Congress State President Ramu Tekam, Assembly In-charge Govind Vyas, and Block Congress President Pankaj Ranu Thakur.
Speaking to the press, local leaders highlighted the plight of low-income families. “We are seeing households with just two rooms, consuming minimal electricity, receiving bills as high as ₹4,000 to ₹5,000,” said Pankaj Ranu Thakur. “The public is already struggling with rampant inflation; these exorbitant bills are effectively breaking the backs of the common man.”
The memorandum submitted to the administration outlines four primary demands:
* **Independent Audit:** A fair, third-party investigation into the smart meter readings and the billing discrepancies.
* **Bill Revision:** Adjustments to bills based on actual electricity consumption.
* **Moratorium on Disconnections:** A stay on power cuts for struggling households until the audit process is completed.
* **Reversion to Traditional Meters:** The immediate removal of smart meters and the restoration of conventional metering systems.
### A Growing Regional Movement
This latest agitation in Bhainsdehi is part of an intensifying regional campaign. Similar protests against smart meter implementation have recently been held in Amla, Betul, and Sarni, signaling widespread public dissatisfaction across the district.
“The government is choosing to burden the public rather than provide relief,” said Ramu Tekam, Tribal Congress State President. “If these demands are not met promptly, we will be forced to escalate our movement to a much larger scale.”
The demonstration saw significant participation from local residents, reflecting the growing anxiety surrounding utility costs in the region. As of Monday evening, the district administration had yet to issue a formal response to the specific demands raised in the memorandum.
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