Margao: Setting a deadline for Friday evening, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has warned of a protest march to the residence of Power Minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar if the government fails to announce the withdrawal of sanctioned load penalties imposed on electricity consumers across Goa.
AAP demands immediate withdrawal
AAP Goa president Valmiki Naik stated that party leaders had visited families across the state. He demanded that all sanctioned load penalties be immediately withdrawn and that consumers be given a three-month window to regularise their load without penalty. Naik argued that most consumers had never been adequately informed about the consequences of exceeding sanctioned load limits fixed decades ago, when household consumption was far lower.
Consumer burden highlighted
AAP minority leader Sarfaraz Ankalgi called it unconscionable that a person earning Rs 12,000–15,000 a month should face electricity bills exceeding Rs 11,000. He emphasized that such penalties place an unbearable burden on low-income households.
Congress calls for awareness drive
Goa Congress media chairperson Amarnath Panjikar demanded that the electricity department launch a comprehensive consumer awareness drive before proceeding with smart meter installations. He questioned why the department, which holds consumers’ billing addresses and mobile numbers, had relied solely on newspaper advertisements rather than SMS alerts, bill inserts, or WhatsApp notifications to inform consumers about load penalties.
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