Margao: The Smart Meter Naka Group on Saturday said the Goa human rights commission’s (GHRC) inquiry report on smart meters “raises more questions than answers”, and demanded transparency from govt and the electricity department.The commission took up the issue suo motu based on a newspaper report alleging forced smart meter installation, in a case against the chief electrical engineer.The group said that although the commission found no human rights violation in meter replacement, its recommendations on printed notices and consumer awareness indicated lapses. It alleged that consumers were not informed about personal data sharing, safety data was not provided, and postpaid connections were switched to prepaid without consent, as argued by amicus curiae Abhijit Goswami.The group said the inquiry was limited to human rights and not a smart meter policy review. It said the commission’s recommendation that the department proceed with installations was going beyond its legal capacity, highlighting environmental concerns and cybersecurity risks.Citing an RTI reply, the group said the department admitted it did not have safety data on radiation and health effects, demanding that all safety reports be made public before any rollout. It also asked govt to clarify the legal basis for compulsory prepayment, noting the department’s reliance on Section 47(5) of the Electricity Act, 2003.It said it would explore legal remedies, seek scrapping of the project and call on govt to fix power cuts and service deficiencies.
