Margao – “When Power Minister Sudin Dhavlikar tells the media that Smart Meters are largely funded by the Centre, but the LAQ reply of July 2025 by Power Minister Ramkrishna Dhavlikar clearly shows 70 crore from Centre and a massive 820 crore burden on Goa, the contradiction is too glaring to ignore”, stated Madganvcho Awaaz & Youth Leader Prabhav Naik.
The people of Goa deserve clarity on this critical issue. While public statements suggest that the Smart Meter project is predominantly supported by the Central Government, official records presented before the Goa Legislative Assembly indicate otherwise. Such conflicting narratives only add to public confusion and concern, Prabhav Naik said.
He pointed that “As per the LAQ reply, the total project cost stands at approximately 890 crore, of which only 70.11 crore is funded by the Centre, while a staggering 820.01 crore is to be borne by the State. Even if this amount is to be repaid over a period of 93 months, it undeniably remains a financial burden on Goa and its citizens”, claimed Prabhav Naik.
Adding to the ambiguity is the reference made in public statements to the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). However, there is no mention of RDSS in the official LAQ reply, raising further questions about the framework under which this project is being executed, he said.
Madganvcho Awaaz strongly urge the Power Minister Ramkrishna alias Sudin Dhavalikar to clarify these contradictions and present the true picture before the people of Goa. Citizens have every right to know the exact financial implications of the Smart Meter project and who ultimately bears the cost, Prabhav Naik said.
