Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led government over the state’s smart meter project, alleging cost escalation, inflated electricity bills and delays in billing while demanding that the project be scrapped.
GPCC Media and Communication Department chairman Amarnath Panjikar said the project cost had increased from ₹467 crore to approximately ₹890 crore, raising questions over planning, transparency and accountability.
“A project whose cost has nearly doubled while consumers are being hit with inflated bills cannot be called smart governance. This is a colossal failure of the Sawant Government. Scrap the smart meter project and stop punishing Goa’s consumers,” Panjikar said.
GPCC RTI Department convenor Uday Chari claimed that 44,248 smart meters had been installed, but consumers were reportedly not receiving timely information about their electricity consumption on their mobile phones.
“If consumers cannot even access timely information about their own electricity consumption, what exactly is smart about this smart meter project?” Chari asked.
Chari also questioned the government’s alleged failure to complete the project within the stipulated timeframe and said adequate planning and infrastructure should have been ensured before implementation.
He further demanded an official notification regarding the reported decision to keep the smart meter project on hold. Chari said an oral announcement by the Chief Minister was not sufficient for a project involving hundreds of crores in public funds.
Panjikar also raised concerns over consumers receiving electricity bills after 40, 60 days or even longer, claiming that delayed billing resulted in accumulated consumption and higher slab charges.
“Why should consumers pay more because the Electricity Department fails to generate bills on time? Correct the inflated bills and stop penalising ordinary people for administrative failures,” he said.
Questioning the government’s handling of the project, Panjikar also referred to the reported ₹18 crore relief provided to the contractor towards the guarantee amount during the Letter of Intent stage.
“If the Government can give ₹18 crore relief to a contractor, why can’t it give relief to consumers struggling with inflated electricity bills?” he asked.
Panjikar further alleged that more than ₹2,000 crore in dues were pending from 10 state government departments, apart from outstanding amounts from industries and commercial consumers. He demanded that the government focus on recovering these dues instead of placing an additional burden on ordinary households.
The GPCC has demanded that the smart meter project be scrapped, all 44,248 smart meters be replaced with the earlier digital meters, and electricity slab rates and other charges, including fixed charges, fuel and power charges, electricity duty and street light duty, be reduced.
The party also called for timely billing, correction of inflated bills, recovery of outstanding dues from government departments and other consumers, and publication of a white paper explaining the increase in project cost from ₹467 crore to approximately ₹890 crore.
It further demanded an official notification on the status of the smart meter project and immediate relief for consumers affected by inflated electricity bills.
“The Government cannot hide behind oral announcements and administrative excuses. Electricity is an essential service. Scrap this failed smart meter project, recover the outstanding dues and give immediate relief to Goa’s consumers,” Panjikar said.
