Bill for air; smart meter recording readings even for wind in pipes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The smart meter of the Water Authority is robbing customers in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation limits by recording readings even for the wind that comes through the pipe when there is no drinking water. The monthly rate doubles due to this. The reason is that the smart meter works even when the pipe is opened when there is no water. As part of the Smart City project, about 8000 smart meters have been installed in various places in the corporation limits since 2022.

The smart meter, which costs between Rs 6,000 and Rs 8,000, has to be purchased by the consumer themselves. This same smart meter has become a nightmare for the consumers. The smart meter was introduced to streamline billing and solve excessive leakage of drinking water. The objections are being raised while the Water Authority has submitted a recommendation to the government to make it widespread in the state. The smart meter works with the help of GSM/GPRS.

Of the Rs 2.29 crore project in Thiruvananthapuram, Rs 27.42 lakh has already been spent. A data centre and dashboard have been set up in the Water Authority under the leadership of the Smart City Mission for the implementation of the project.

Failure in Kochi

60 meters were installed on a trial basis within the Kochi Municipality limits, but to no avail. The digital meter should be installed below ground level. However, due to waterlogging in many places in Kochi, the battery in the meter became inoperative.