Panaji: On the 14th day of ongoing Monsoon Assembly session, Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai voiced strong opposition to the 3.5 percent increase in power tariffs. He suggested the increase seemed like retaliation following the party’s loss of the South Goa seat in the recent Lok Sabha polls. Sardesai argued that this hike places an unjustifiable financial burden on Goa residents, who are already struggling with the high cost of living.
Sardesai emphasized that the government should prioritize recovering over Rs 1,000 crore in arrears from power consumers, including government departments, before imposing additional financial burdens on honest, bill-paying citizens. He pointed out that many properties used for commercial purposes are still being billed at domestic rates, causing significant revenue loss.
The Goa Forward Party has already submitted a memorandum to the Chief Engineer (CE) outlining these concerns. Sardesai also highlighted the hardship faced by consumers who received notices to increase their load capacity. He noted that the process is cumbersome, with agents charging high fees, and suggested simplifying it, particularly to ease the burden on senior citizens. He further recommended a government subsidy scheme for the installation of inverters, given the frequent power outages in areas like Fatorda, which have damaged household appliances.
Sardesai criticized the Minister’s response to a Legislative Assembly Question (LAQ), in which the department denied responsibility for damage to consumer devices, attributing the issues to the age of the appliances. He questioned how residents could protect their valuable equipment under such circumstances.
Additionally, Sardesai brought attention to a letter from contract meter readers in the Electricity Department, who have been requesting the regularization of their services. These workers, many of whom have been in service for over a decade and are now ineligible for other government jobs due to age, are struggling to support their families on the minimum payment of Rs. 22,700. They expressed feelings of injustice, particularly after the recent appointment of regular meter readers, which they felt overlooked their years of dedicated service. Sardesai called for support in their demand for regularization and for the government to address their concerns.
