Shripad: Need public consultation on power reforms

Panaji: Union minister of state for power and new and renewable energy, Shripad Naik, on Thursday acknowledged criticism that govt had failed to consult stakeholders before proposing penalties for electricity consumers exceeding sanctioned load limits.Naik said that greater public engagement was necessary before implementing the proposal.He was speaking at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) at Dona Paula on Thursday.“There was a notification regarding consumers taking a certain sanctioned load and being penalised if their consumption exceeded the prescribed limit. We requested the authorities to withdraw it, and they have agreed to do so. Such decisions should be discussed with the people first.

Govt has sufficient power supply, and there is no problem with increasing the load if consumers require it. But before introducing penalties, people should be informed and consulted,” the minister said.On the issue of smart meters, which have faced resistance in some areas, the minister said the technology was beneficial. “Smart meters are a very good idea. They provide consumers with detailed information, including usage data on mobile devices. There appears to be a communication gap between the govt and the people regarding these benefits,” he said.