Alleged irregularities in NTPC project under study: govt

CVC had forwarded complaint about award of contract of NTPC's coal mine project in Jharkhand to Australian firm Theiss India

The government today said the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) had forwarded a complaint with regard to alleged irregularities in award of contract of NTPC's coal mine project in Jharkhand to Australian firm Theiss India.

"The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has forwarded a complaint regarding alleged irregularities in award of contract of Pakri Barwadih coal mine to Thiess Minecs, which was investigated by the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of NTPC," Minister of State for Coal Pratik Prakashbapu Patil said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

"The report of CVO, NTPC, is under examination in consultation with the CVC," the Minister said.

An NTPC official had earlier said "the duration of the contract (awarded to Australian firm Theiss ) will be for a little over 22 years".

The decision was in the wake of the NTPC getting three coal blocks to feed thermal power plants.

The Australian Company was asked to ensure quality and quantity of the coal to be mined, the official had said. It would produce 15 million tonnes of coal from Pakri Barwadih coal mining project alone, he had added.