Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: AAP Goa President Valmiki Naik on Friday criticised the Electricity Department over its stance on consumers being required to apply for an increase in sanctioned electrical load, questioning the rationale behind imposing penalty charges on people who were allegedly unaware of the requirement.
Naik asked whether the department suffers any financial loss due to an increase in sanctioned load and, if not, why consumers are being penalised instead of being given an opportunity to regularise their connections.
He argued that many residents were not informed about the need to submit applications for a load enhancement.
The AAP leader called on the Electricity Department to issue a clear policy decision immediately. He demanded that all penalty charges linked to the issue be withdrawn and that consumers across Goa be granted a three-month period to file applications for an increase in sanctioned load.
He also urged the department to process and approve such applications within the same three-month timeframe.
Rejecting any proposal for payment through instalments, Naik said the party wants the penalties to be scrapped altogether.
He warned that if the government fails to respond by Friday evening, AAP workers will march to the residence of Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Saturday to stage a protest.
