Don’t just pause smart meter rollout, scrap entire project: Citizens’ group

Panaji: ‘Citizens for Democracy’ has demanded that govt scrap the smart meter project rather than pause its rollout. The group has called for a probe into the increase in its cost from Rs 400 crore to Rs 890 crore.

Its convener, Elvis Gomes, said that while chief minister Pramod Sawant’s decision to put the project on hold was a step in the right direction, it did not go far enough.“It is better late than never that the govt has paused the project, but we request that it be scrapped altogether,” he said. Gomes urged Sawant to investigate how the decision to replace 7.5 lakh existing meters was taken without adequately informing the public. He also sought clarity on whether the installations are mandatory.