Lucknow, April 19 -- Acting on the chief minister's directions, the Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a high-level expert committee to examine complaints related to smart meters, including issues of quality and connectivity. Announcing the decision, Ashish Kumar Goel, additional chief secretary (Energy) and Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) chairman, said that the work of replacing smart meters had been kept in abeyance till the panel submits its report. The move comes amid rising complaints from consumers despite the state having already installed around 85 lakh smart meters under the Centre's RDSS scheme. Officials said the committee will undertake a technical audit of smart meters installed across the state and assess their performance and reliability. The panel comprises experts from IIT Kanpur, representatives from the Electrical Research and Development Association (ERDA), and senior officials from UPPCL. "The committee has been asked to submit its report within 10 days. Any decision on replacement or continuation of smart meter installations will be taken based on its findings," Goel said....