Panaji: The smart meter controversy in Goa has intensified, with Congress leader Amit Patkar demanding that the government scrap the project within 15 days or face a protest at the Electricity Department.
Patkar maintained that merely keeping the smart meter project on hold was not enough and called on the government to either implement it or scrap it altogether. He demanded that the project be scrapped within the next 15 days, warning that Congress would launch a protest at the Electricity Department if the government failed to act.
The Congress leader also claimed that electricity bills of consumers who had installed smart meters had doubled, raising concerns over the impact of the project on domestic consumers.
Meanwhile, Chief Electrical Engineer Stephen Fernandes confirmed that the installation of smart meters for domestic consumers had been put on hold following a decision by the Chief Minister.
“Smart meter installation for domestic consumers has been put on hold following the Chief Minister’s decision. I cannot comment further on the matter,” Fernandes said.
The announcement comes amid the ongoing debate over the smart meter rollout and its implications for electricity consumers in Goa. While the government’s decision has temporarily halted installations for domestic consumers, Patkar has called for the project to be scrapped entirely.
With Congress issuing a 15-day ultimatum, the government’s next move on the smart meter project is likely to remain under close public scrutiny.
