Reacting to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s announcement that the rollout of smart meters has been put on hold, Siddesh Bhagat welcomed the decision but called for an official written notification to provide clarity and assurance to consumers.
Bhagat said that while he appreciated the Chief Minister for responding to public concerns, verbal or televised statements alone were insufficient and needed to be backed by formal government orders.
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“I thank the Chief Minister for finally listening, but Goa needs a written notification, not TV statements,” Bhagat said.
He pointed out that electricity bill due dates are approaching and alleged that several consumers are facing the threat of power disconnection over disputed bills. In light of the government’s announcement, he urged the authorities to immediately issue directions to the Electricity Department.
Bhagat also demanded that penalty charges and related punitive measures be waived for affected consumers until the billing issues are resolved, stressing that Goans should not suffer due to discrepancies that are currently under review.
His statement comes amid growing public concern over electricity bills and the implementation of smart meters, with the state government assuring that the rollout has been paused while consumer grievances are addressed.
