Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Apr 26: The Pramod Sawant-led BJP government is under fire from opposition parties and consumer rights groups after proposing a series of power tariff hikes for domestic consumers, starting this year and continuing over the next two years, as outlined in its petition to the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC).
Defending the proposal, Power Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar said the hike was "inevitable," citing a growing Rs 400-crore-plus gap between the Electricity Department’s expenditure and revenue. He downplayed the proposed six paise per unit increase, calling it "minuscule" and insisted that even after the revision, Goa’s power rates would remain cheaper than those in neighboring Maharashtra and Karnataka.
"I am personally overseeing revenue collections. We’ve recovered 30% of the long-pending arrears and achieved a 15% revenue increase against a target of 10%," Dhavalikar claimed.
Electricity Department sources explained that the impact on monthly domestic bills would range between a 4.6% and 6.5% increase, depending on consumption. For instance, consumers currently paying between Rs 250 and Rs 400 per month could expect their bills to rise by around Rs 20.
Despite the minister’s defense, opposition leaders have slammed the move. Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao demanded that the government withdraw the proposal and focus instead on collecting massive unpaid dues from casinos and industries.
"Instead of burdening the common Goan who is already reeling under high inflation and rising fuel and food prices, the government should prioritize recovering dues from casinos and industries," Alemao said.
Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Benaulim MLA, Venzy Viegas, echoed the criticism, arguing that the government must recover nearly Rs 1,000 crore in arrears and address departmental inefficiencies and rampant power theft, rather than taking the easy route of increasing tariffs again.
"The government raised tariffs by over 3.5% just last year. Bridging deficits by making people pay more is unacceptable," Viegas said.