Panaji, October 28, 2025:
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa today exposed the blatant U-turn and lie by Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on the Time-of-Day (TOD) power tariff issue and alleged a ₹900 crore Smart Meter scam, calling both part of the BJP government’s plan to mislead and loot Goans.
AAP General Secretary Adv. Surel Tilve slammed the Power Minister for lying on camera and trying to deceive Goans after facing public anger over the proposed 20% electricity surcharge.
Sudin Dhavalikar is a frustrated person who doesn’t understand the role of the Opposition. He has insulted the people of Goa who raised genuine concerns about the new power policy: Adv. Tilve.
Tilve pointed out that Dhavalikar’s claim that the new TOD billing would apply only to HT (High Tension) users is completely false. Referring to the Electricity Department’s Public Notice (Petition No. 141/2025), he said:
Page 5 of the notice clearly states — All LT consumers except agriculture shall be mandatorily billed under TOD tariff rates.
Sudin Dhavalikar has lied to the people of Goa on camera. TOD for HT users has been in place for seven years. His statement was a deliberate attempt to mislead Goans and cover up a failed policy. Instead of listening to people, he chose to lie to protect himself: Adv. Tilve.
Tilve added that Dhavalikar’s arrogance reflects the BJP government’s disrespect for public accountability and its habit of insulting anyone who questions them.
Turning to the Smart Meter issue, AAP National Spokesperson Valmiki Naik called it a massive scam under the guise of modernization.
In states like UP and Bihar, smart meters were required because they still had old analog meters. But in Goa, we already have digital meters. There is no need to spend ₹900 crore on this project: Naik.
When the Cabinet approved this tender, ₹450 crore was allotted. But the final tender was awarded for ₹900 crore. How did the cost double? This is not reform — it’s robbery: Naik.
He warned that once smart meters are installed, electricity bills will double overnight, as seen in UP, Gujarat, and other BJP-ruled states.
These smart meters will put consumers at the mercy of the government. Soon, all connections will become prepaid. What will families do when they want to adjust this month’s bill to the next? This government wants to hold Goans hostage through electricity: Naik.
Naik said that instead of wasting crores on lies and tenders, the BJP government should first provide 24-hour power supply and give 300 units of free electricity to every Goan, as AAP governments have done in Delhi and Punjab.
Before talking about modernization, fix the basics. Give Goans reliable electricity and stop looting them with surcharges and inflated tenders: Naik.
AAP has demanded that the government withdraw the TOD implementation, scrap the ₹900 crore Smart Meter tender, and conduct an independent audit into the Power Department’s spending.
