Agartala, Oct 26 : A disruption in prepaid electricity meter recharge services triggered a protest at the Tripura State Electricity Corporation’s sub-divisional office in Kumarghat, with consumers alleging that their power supply was disconnected after they failed to recharge their meters.
The situation turned tense on Monday as a large number of consumers from Kumarghat, Fatikroy and neighbouring areas gathered outside the office, demanding an immediate resolution of the problem. Police personnel intervened to bring the situation under control, following which the online recharge facility was restored.
According to the protesters, several households were left without electricity after their prepaid meter balances were exhausted. They alleged that the recharge counter remained closed due to a government holiday, while the online recharge system was also reportedly not functioning.
The twin disruptions left consumers with no immediate means of replenishing their meter balances and restoring their electricity connections, triggering resentment among residents.
The protesters questioned the reliability of the prepaid metering system and said repeated difficulties in recharging meters were causing hardship for ordinary households. They demanded that the electricity utility ensure uninterrupted access to recharge facilities, particularly during holidays.
Some consumers also expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of electricity-related issues and called for a review of the prepaid metering system. A section of the protesters demanded a return to the earlier postpaid billing arrangement.
As the demonstration intensified, personnel from Kumarghat Police Station, led by Officer-in-Charge Sanjoy Das, reached the electricity corporation’s office to manage the situation and prevent further escalation.
Following the protest, the online recharge facility was made operational, enabling affected consumers to replenish their prepaid meter balances and restore their electricity supply.
The situation gradually returned to normal after the service resumed, according to the account of the incident.
The episode has renewed concerns among consumers over the reliability of prepaid electricity services in the state, particularly when recharge facilities become inaccessible during holidays or technical disruptions.
Residents have called for a more dependable system, better arrangements for recharging meters and prompt resolution of technical problems to prevent similar incidents.
The incident also brought the prepaid billing system under scrutiny, with consumers urging the electricity corporation to address service-related grievances and ensure that households do not face prolonged power cuts because of recharge difficulties.
