Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa has accused Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar of misleading the public over the Time-of-Day (TOD) electricity tariff, while also alleging a ₹900-crore scam in the smart meter tender process.
Addressing a press conference in Panaji, AAP General Secretary Adv. Surel Tilve said the Power Minister had made a “blatant U-turn” on the TOD issue after facing backlash over the proposed 20% power surcharge.
“Sudin Dhavalikar is lying to Goans. The Electricity Department’s own public notice (Petition No. 141/2025) clearly states that TOD billing will apply to all LT consumers except agriculture,” Tilve said. “His claim that it is only for HT users is completely false and an attempt to mislead people.”
Tilve added that the Minister’s remarks showed “arrogance and disregard for public accountability,” and accused the BJP government of “insulting citizens who raise genuine concerns.”
AAP National Spokesperson Valmiki Naik further alleged a ₹900-crore scam in the smart meter project, calling it “robbery disguised as modernization.”
“When the Cabinet first cleared the tender, the budget was ₹450 crore, but the final contract was awarded for ₹900 crore. Goa already has digital meters, so this spending makes no sense,” Naik said. He warned that once smart meters are installed, power bills could double, as experienced in other BJP-ruled states.
Naik said the government should focus on providing uninterrupted power supply and 300 units of free electricity to every household before pursuing expensive projects. “Instead of wasting crores on lies and tenders, fix the basics. Goans deserve reliable electricity, not inflated bills,” he said.
AAP has demanded that the state government immediately withdraw the TOD plan, cancel the smart meter tender, and order an independent audit of the Power Department’s finances.
