A LARGE protest rally and gherao of the Dahanu office of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (Mahavitaran) was led by the CPI(M) last week. The protest was against the installation of smart meters, electricity privatisation, and the huge power bills that are attacking lakhs of peasants, workers, and common people. The rally marched into and occupied the Mahavitaran office and gheraoed its officials for over two hours. In spite of torrential rain and farm work in full swing, 1,000 people took part in the protest.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and AIKS President Ashok Dhawale, CPI(M)'s two-term MLA from Dahanu Vinod Nikole, Party district secretary Kiran Gahala, AIDWA state secretary Prachi Hatiwlekar, Party tehsil secretary Radka Kalangda, AIDWA district secretary Lahani Dauda, and AIKS state working president Chandrakant Ghorkhana led the agitation and addressed its participants. They were from the AIKS, CITU, AIDWA, AND DYFI.
Out of the nearly 225 lakh electricity meters in Maharashtra, more than half, that is 115 lakh smart meters in the comparatively more prosperous Mumbai, Konkan and Western Maharashtra regions have been handed over by the state government for installation and profiteering to the Adani group. The remaining 110 lakh smart meters in the backward Vidarbha, Marathwada and North Maharashtra regions have been given to lesser-known companies like NCC, Montecarlo, and Genco.
After the two-hour gherao, the senior engineer from the district headquarter Palghar came to Dahanu. Obviously, he too could not convince the agitators. The leadership finally gave the warning that if the smart meters were not removed within a month, a huge district-wide struggle of the people would be launched.
