Former Congress state president Amit Patkar along with other leaders and concerned citizens staged a protest outside the Electricity Department office, Vidyut Bhavan in Panaji on Wednesday, demanding that the government issue a formal notification scrapping the Smart Meter project. Patkar argued that verbal assurances and public statements regarding the project's suspension were insufficient. Patkar questioned how consumers affected by increased electricity bills and penalty charges would be compensated if the project remained only "on hold." Accusing the government of acting in a dictatorial manner, he insisted that a written order officially cancelling or suspending the project be issued immediately and warned that the agitation would continue until such a notification is released. Officials from the Electricity Department on the other hand still maintain that smart metering is a Central Government mandate and due to which it cannot be scrapped at the State level. Now, when states like Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have officially scrapped smart meters then why not the government of Goa? Well, the government should get the smart meter project scrapped immediately without giving any more lame excusesif it really cares for the well-being of people.
JERRY FERNANDES, Saligao
