HYDERABAD, Oct 22: The residents of the block-2 of Latifabad-8 took out a rally here on Tuesday against installation of crystal meters at electric poles by Hesco.

The protesters marched on the road and surrounded the office of the executive engineer, Latifabad, Khurshid, on Auto Bhan Road.

According to the taluka Latifabad Nazim, Abdul Jabbar Khan, the protesters smashed some meters, which were being installed on the poles.

The highly charged protesters were persuaded by the Nazim to end their protest. He assured them that he would take up the matter with Hesco XEN.

The residents were of the view that the meters were running 35 to 40 per cent fast as compared to the old meters.

They claimed that most of the power consumers of the area were underpaid employees and they could not afford to pay bills according to the reading of such meters.

The protesters complained that some residents were receiving exaggerated bills. They added that the consumers, who failed to pay the exaggerated bills, were issued detection bills, which multiplied their miseries.

Later, the Taluka Nazim held a meeting with the XEN in his office and proposed that a survey should be conducted in the area for the installation of crystal meters. He said that a member from the taluka municipal administration and another from Hesco should be taken into the committee.