It is simply bewildering to see the Goa government, which had earlier promised a 24-hour uninterrupted power supply to the people of Goa, at election time, now struggling to meet the power shortage and increased demand in the state, as well as a revenue shortfall of Rs 483 crore with a 6% hike in power tariff from April 2023.
Poor planning over the past 6 decades, along with poor maintenance and the failure to check transmission and distribution losses, pilferage and illegal connections have resulted in the present debacle of frequent power outages and fluctuating voltage, placing a heavy burden and inconvenience to the people of Goa.
A further tariff hike of 6% will only serve to rub salt into the wounds of the common man, already burdened by high inflation, and all round increase in the cost of living. Secondly, the proposed installation of Smart power meters in every house by Power Minster Sudin Dhavalikar will further increase the burden of Rs 800 crore on the depleted coffers of the Electricity Department. Without improvement in the power supply or monetary benefit to the consumers. Smart power meters should be fixed only when the entire work of underground cabling is completed, and power supply normalised.
