Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) have escalated their criticism of the state government over the smart meter project and rising electricity bills, alleging financial irregularities, mounting public burden, and lack of transparency in the power sector.
The Congress has demanded recovery of approximately ₹570 crore in pending electricity dues, including ₹108 crore owed by government departments, accusing the administration of failing to clear its own liabilities while placing additional burden on ordinary consumers through rising power bills. The party alleged that the financial stress on households is increasing due to the implementation of smart meters and associated billing changes.
As part of their protest at Vidyut Bhavan, Congress leaders alleged irregularities in the execution of the smart meter project and claimed that the tender cost had significantly increased compared to initial estimates. They demanded a detailed public explanation of the project’s financial structure and warned of intensified agitation if transparency is not ensured.
Party leaders, including Girish Chodankar Patkar, also met Chief Electrical Engineer Stephan Fernandes seeking clarification on the cost escalation. The opposition alleged discrepancies between projected and awarded costs, calling for accountability in the procurement process.
The Chief Electrical Engineer, however, rejected the allegations, stating that the final project cost includes GST and central government support and that the tender process was conducted in accordance with established procedures without any irregularities.
Meanwhile, AAP Goa President Amit Palekar also criticised the government, demanding rollback of the recent tariff hike and immediate suspension of smart meter installations. He alleged that the middle class is bearing the brunt of rising electricity charges while public funds are being diverted towards non-essential expenditure.
Opposition leaders further accused the government of using technical explanations and billing terminology to justify increased electricity costs, insisting that the issue requires greater transparency rather than procedural clarification.
The opposition has warned that protests will continue if their demands are not addressed, and has called for immediate relief measures for consumers affected by higher electricity bills.
