Residents from Margao and Navelim, accompanied by leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), staged a protest outside the Margao Power House on Thursday, demanding the complete withdrawal of what they described as inflated electricity bills issued between January and June 15.
The protest followed concerns that consumers had not received an official government order clarifying how the disputed bills would be addressed. Protesters demanded that all electricity bills issued during the period be cancelled instead of being revised or adjusted in future billing cycles.
AAP leaders also called for refunds to consumers who had already paid the disputed bills, saying many families had borrowed money or taken loans to settle their electricity dues.
Addressing reporters, AAP Organisational Secretary Prashant Naik said officials had informed the delegation that the bills would be revised, a proposal the party rejected.
“BJP Govt collected ₹43 crore through power penalties. If it returns to power, ₹43 crore will become ₹430 crore, and the common man will be crushed under BJP’s corruption machine.”
Naik said the party’s demand remained that all electricity bills issued from January until June 15 should be officially waived rather than adjusted in subsequent bills. He also maintained that consumers who had already made payments should receive refunds.
According to Naik, many households had used savings or borrowed money to clear the bills, placing them under financial strain. He said relief should not be delayed after consumers had already been compelled to pay what the party considers excessive charges.
© AAP MediaNaik said the party had given the Electricity Department until Monday to issue an official order waiving the bills. Failing that, he said, residents from across Margao taluka, along with AAP leaders, would begin an indefinite sit-in protest outside the department’s office.
AAP South Goa Youth Wing President Neash Coutinho alleged that the government had not provided sufficient clarity to consumers despite repeated assurances regarding the electricity bills.
He said bill payment deadlines were approaching, but consumers had not received any official notification confirming relief measures. According to Coutinho, residents continued visiting Electricity Department offices after receiving what they considered inflated bills.
“AAP is determined to secure welfare for every Goan. We will not stop until every household receives complete relief from high electricity bills.”
Coutinho said the government should provide an official resolution instead of relying on verbal assurances. He added that if relief continued to be delayed, the party would intensify its agitation across Goa.
The party reiterated that if an official waiver order is not issued by Monday, it will launch an indefinite protest outside the Electricity Department with residents from across Margao taluka until a formal government order is issued.
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