A controversy has erupted in Goa over the funding of smart meters, with conflicting statements from Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar and an earlier Legislative Assembly reply by Ramkrishna Dhavalikar drawing sharp criticism.
According to Madganvcho Awaaz and youth leader Prabhav Naik, the contradiction between the two positions is significant. While Sudin Dhavalikar recently stated that the smart meter project is largely funded by the Centre, a Legislative Assembly Question (LAQ) reply from July 2025 by Ramkrishna Dhavalikar reportedly indicates otherwise.
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The LAQ response suggests that only ₹70 crore of the project cost is being funded by the Centre, while a substantial ₹820 crore burden is to be borne by the state of Goa.
Critics argue that the discrepancy raises concerns about transparency and clarity in the implementation of the smart meter project, with calls for the government to clearly outline the financial structure and impact on the state’s resources.
