Aam Aadmi Party Organising Secretary Prashant Naik addressing the media on power issues on Sunday.
MARGAO
Aam Aadmi Party leaders from Salcete on Sunday demanded immediate waiver of high electricity bills across Goa.
The AAP leaders criticised Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar for making vague and self-contradictory statements regarding refunds and payment of bills in instalments. They demanded that the government immediately issue an official order waiving all inflated electricity bills and penalties imposed on affected consumers.
AAP Vice President Roque Mascarenhas stated that the issue of exorbitant electricity bills has become a statewide crisis. He said that AAP leaders have visited Quepem, Canacona, Mapusa, Pernem, Curtorim, Cuncolim, Ponda and Shiroda to directly hear the grievances of people affected by the inflated bills.
AAP Organisation Secretary Prashant Naik stated that Sudin Dhavalikar has remained in power under both BJP and Congress governments and that every department he handles eventually becomes a source of problems for the people. Naik said that the BJP government and the Power Minister have imposed such high electricity bills that they are financially crushing ordinary Goans.
He pointed out that even the Union Power Minister has stated that smart meters are not compulsory, yet the BJP government in Goa is attempting to impose them on people against their wishes. He added that the government has failed to provide uninterrupted 24x7 electricity supply and yet continues to burden consumers with higher charges and penalties.
