Panaji, September 8, 2026: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Media & Communication Department Chairman Amarnath Panjikar launched a sharp attack on the BJP Government over the controversial smart meter project, inflated electricity bills, and delayed billing, demanding its immediate scrapping and relief for consumers.
Panjikar said the project cost, escalating from ₹467 crore to approximately ₹890 crore, raises serious questions about 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.
44,248 SMART METERS, BUT NO SMART SERVICE — UDAY CHARI
RTI Department Convenor Uday Chari said 44,248 smart meters have been installed, yet consumers are reportedly not receiving timely electricity consumption information 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.
He said the project was implemented without adequate planning and infrastructure and questioned the Government’s failure to complete it within the stipulated timeframe.
“ORAL ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT ENOUGH”
Chari demanded an official notification on the reported decision to keep the smart meter project on hold.
“The Chief Minister has reportedly announced orally that the project is on hold. Where is the official order? A project involving hundreds of crores of public money cannot be governed by oral assurances.”
INFLATED BILLS: WHY SHOULD CONSUMERS PAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT’S FAILURE?
Panjikar said consumers are receiving electricity bills after 40, 60, or even more days, resulting 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,” Panjikar demanded.
Questioning the Government’s priorities, he also cited the reported ₹18 crore relief granted 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?”
MORE THAN ₹2,000 CRORE IN DUES: RECOVER THE MONEY, DON’T SQUEEZE THE PEOPLE
Panjikar questioned the Government’s failure to recover reportedly more than ₹2,000 crore in dues from just 10 State Government departments, apart from dues from industries and commercial consumers.
“Recover the money already owed to the Government instead of squeezing ordinary households. Goa’s people should not be made to pay for the Government’s collection failures.”
