LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Electricity tariff

Most Goans gained access to electricity some 40 to 50 years ago. Before that, the older generations relied entirely on natural light and fire, using torches, oil lamps and Petromax kerosene lamps, to see and work. To conserve oil and kerosene, they scheduled light-intensive tasks during broad daylight. People today have forgotten the hardships our ancestors faced. They take electricity for granted, forgetting that unlike kerosene, it cannot be stored at scale and must be conserved. Goa relies entirely on external grids for power, yet enjoys some of the cheapest tariffs in India. Unfortunately, lavish consumption has led to public outcry over inflated bills, which simply reflect the actual usage. Tariffs are decided by central bodies (CERC and JERC). In 2018, JERC mandated that meters record Maximum Demand Indicator (MDI) data – the peak power used when multiple appliances run simultaneously. Despite department notices, many consumers since the 1980s never upgraded their low 1 kW sanctioned loads to match modern appliance usage. Consequently, when a new tariff structure rolled out in October 2025, consumers exceeding their capacity faced penal charges. The bill spike was caused by extended summer air-conditioning use and tariff updates, not smart meters. Under India’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), smart meters track real-time consumption to help users save money. Misconceptions about their cellular vulnerability are unfounded. Embracing smart metering will allow Goa to efficiently manage power and serve as a national role model.

Siya Chimulkar, Chimbel

Saving villages

Bowing to public pressure, the state government last week withdrew its letter written by the Revenue Department to the Directorate of Panchayats, seeking suggestions from village panchayats on an old proposal to classify 56 villages as urban areas. A similar exercise had sparked strong public protests in January 2020, forcing the government to withdraw the proposal within a month in February 2020. The reason most Goans oppose the government’s urbanisation plan is because they have practically seen how the once quiet, beautiful village of Taleigao was ‘sold’ to the builders’ lobby, turned into a concrete jungle and ‘destroyed’ in the name of long-term development. Goans do not want any urbanisation of their villages; they want to preserve their natural beauty and culture in its present form. Goans need to stay extra vigilant to save what is left of Goa.

Jerry Fernandes, Saligao

Canine crisis

Despite Panaji achieving 80% stray dog vaccination coverage, the highest in Goa, legal, logistical and social hurdles are preventing the city from reaching blanket coverage. The issue cannot be resolved by the Panaji city corporation alone and requires a coordinated approach by all stakeholders. The Supreme Court’s guidelines on stray dog management, though well intentioned, have made it difficult to remove even dangerous animals. Resistance from the so-called animal lovers and dog feeders is severely hampering vaccination and relocation efforts. I have a very simple premise, if these bleeding hearts are so concerned about canines, they should each adopt a couple of strays to keep them off the streets. Life in Goa is difficult with strays lording it over every beach, every road and every street.

Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim

AI impact

The much-touted Indian information technology (IT) industry is headed for some tough times. Anthropic CEO Darius Amodei has opined that in one year, software development will be fully automated using agentic artificial intelligence (AI). For almost 35 years, the IT industry had been a major foreign exchange earner for India doing back end work for large transnationals. Amodei’s assertion is borne out by the stock market too. Valuations of the top 10 Indian IT companies have halved compared to one year ago, more so because we have mainly been cybercoolies for big companies abroad. India has never focused on cutting edge innovation, but on glorified coding at best. The writing is on the wall. Will the IT industry and government respond on time?

Rekha Sarin, Benaulim

Brittle laws

Excessive use of social media is prone to affect the physical and mental health of children apart from yielding to unwanted influences. Australia was the first country to introduce a legislation enabling a ban on children below 16 years from using popular apps like Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube among others; the ban came into effect from December 2025. However, experts have gone on record that the laws governing the “ban” have been brittle. Now, PM Anthony Albanese has admitted that the ban warrants more teeth to make it effective including dragging the apps to court. They also face hefty fines running into more than $30 million because the onus was on the platforms for ensuring compliance. The rules had made it clear that teenagers and their parents would not be penalised for breach of law.

Ganapathi Bhat, Akola