Do not politicise rollout of smart meters: Dhavalikar

Margao: Power minister Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar on Monday hit back at the opposition over its criticism of the smart meter rollout in Goa, asking Congress and AAP to first address the issue in states where they are in office before raising a hue and cry in Goa.

Dhavalikar said the smart meter implementation was under way across the country for the last two-and-a-half years and accused the opposition of cynically exploiting the issue ahead of elections.

“They should not instigate people during the election year,” he said.

Turning the tables on Congress, the minister asked the party to first stop smart meter installations in the states it governs. “Congress workers would do well to go and agitate in Andhra Pradesh where lakhs of smart meters have already been installed. Karnataka also has installed smart meters,” he said.

He levelled a similar charge at AAP, asking the party to explain the smart meter rollout in Delhi and Punjab where it has been in office— before questioning Goa govt’s position. “AAP should go and check in Delhi and Punjab and check who installed smart meters there,” he said.

He clarifiedthat the decision to install smart meters was taken by the union ministry of power.