Rel Infra moves court over Himachal hydel project

Reliance Infrastructure has again approached the Himachal Pradesh High Court over the recent decision of the state government to allot the 960-Mw Jhangi-Thopan hydro-power project to Brakel Corporation.

This is the second time in less than a year that Reliance has challenged the decision of the government to allot the project to the Dutch firm.

Reliance is one of the many bidders for the much sought-after hydro project, to be built at a cost of Rs 8,000 crore, on the Sutlej river in Kinnaur district.

Reliance, in its earlier petition, had challenged the decision of the state government alleging that Brakel had provided incorrect facts regarding its financial and technical competence to build the project.

The court ruled that since the decision was an executive one, it should be decided by the state government.

After Brakel deposited an upfront amount of Rs 173 crore, the project was alloted to the company.

But soon after, a high-level state government committee was set up under the power secretary, to look into the allegations made by Reliance against Brakel.

Later in the year, Brakel made a “forceful” representation with the state government and the project was awarded to the firm on November 25.