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 GOVERNMENT’S FAILURE?
Panjikar said consumers are receiving electricity bills after 40, 60 days or even longer, 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 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 DUES: RECOVER THE MONEY, DON’T SQUEEZE THE PEOPLE*
Panjikar questioned the Government’s failure to recover reportedly more than ₹2,000 crore in Government departments 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.”
*The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee demanded:*
* Scrap the smart meter project immediately.
* Replace all 44,248 smart meters with the earlier digital meters.
* Reduce electricity slab rates and other charges like Fixed chrges, fuel and power charges, electricity duty, street lights duty etc.
* Ensure timely billing and correct all inflated bills.
* Recover outstanding dues from Government departments, industries and commercial consumers.
* Publish a white paper on the ₹467-crore to ₹890-crore cost escalation.
* Issue an official notification on the status of the smart meter project.
* Provide immediate relief to consumers affected by inflated 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.
