Panaji: While people across the state took to the streets protesting smart meters and high electricity bills, state govt granted ex-post facto approval for the electricity department to bear the full cost — around Rs 2 crore — for diesel generator (DG) set power supply for temporary connections during the Formula 4 circuit racing event held in Feb at Mopa airport.Power secretary Prasad Lolayekar, in a cabinet note, said that a meeting chaired by the chief secretary on Jan 21, 2026, had agreed on a 50:50 cost-sharing arrangement, with the electricity department bearing 50% of the power supply cost and event organisers the remaining 50%.Based on coordination between the area assistant engineer and organisers, the total load demand was assessed at 2.8MVA. Since supplying this load through the existing 33kV/11kV electricity department network was not feasible, DG sets were proposed to ensure reliable, uninterrupted power.The electricity department prepared an estimate based on the DG sets actually installed at the site for the full event, totalling a little under Rs 2 crore. However, the chief minister approved a proposal from the Entertainment Society of Goa, following a request from Racing Promotions Private Limited (RPPL), to waive the organisers’ 50% share — making the electricity department responsible for the entire cost of around Rs 2 crore.Separately, state govt granted ex-post facto approval for expenditure of Rs 2.2 crore for appointing an agency to provide services for the 40th Goa Statehood Day function held on May 30 this year at the main auditorium in Kala Academy. The event included the felicitation of Iconic Brands of Goa, an exhibition of cartoonist and painter Mario Miranda, and the release of a Mario Miranda stamp and special cover. The Vice-President of India attended as chief guest.Govt also granted ex-post facto sanction for Rs 4.4 crore in expenditure for the Prerana Din celebrations held in the same month.
