Congress MLA from Palwal Karan Dalal met Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya on Tuesday and demanded a judicial probe into the alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Power Department, headed by the chief minister.
In a ‘chargesheet’ presented to the Governor against the department, Dalal alleged that various irregularities in the department had led to an estimated loss of Rs 21,040 crore to the state exchequer over the years. This loss had been a result of several irregularities, including that in the purchase of material and allotment of major project works at inflated rates to favourite firms, a majority of them on single tender, he alleged.
Besides, the MLA said the residents of the state would have to bear the loss to benefit certain private power companies, whose tariff revision proposal was under consideration of the state government by amending the power purchase agreements. The power tariff revision had already been declined by the Supreme Court, he contended.
The ‘chargesheet’ alleged that certain materials, including transformers, electricity cables and electricity meters, were being purchased by the department by flouting established norms.
Dalal also apprehended that the state government’s proposal to hike power rates by 0.60 paise/ unit with retrospective effect would cost the residents Rs 948 crore per annum.
Alleging intentional discrimination against farmers, he alleged that thousands of applications for release of tube well connections were pending with the department.
Loss to state exchequer