Goa, April 14 -- The State gov ernment's aggressive roll out of smart electricity meters is facing mount ing resistance, with civil society groups warning that the programme risks eroding public trust. At a public meeting held on Monday at the Clergy Home in Margao, speakers and citizens questioned the 'forced implementation' of smart meters without adequate consultation, transparen cy or safeguards. The gathering, or ganised by the Social Collective - Citizens for Democracy Goa in asso ciation with the Awaken India Movement, under scored a growing demand for checks and balances before any large-scale transition is imposed on consumers.

Far from outright rejecting the technology, participants repeatedly stressed that their opposition ste...