Govt in a fix over allotment of self-identified hydel projects

The Uttarakhand government seems to be in a fix after the Opposition parties sought a CBI probe into the allotment of 56 hydel projects last month. These projects were allotted under the self-identified route to some private liquor and newly-floated companies.

The Opposition led by the Congress party raked up the issue in the state assembly forcing its adjournment.

The Leader of the Opposition, Harak Singh Rawat, alleged wide-spread irregularities in the allotment process.

“Let there be a CBI inquiry to unearth the whole truth,” Rawat said.

Later at a press conference, Rawat also released documents related to eight companies and five individuals claiming new companies were floated to secure projects with capacity of 377 Mw. “Out of the eight companies, whose credentials are not well-known, seven are headed by three persons only. And they all managed to get projects worth 377 Mw of power, which is very strange,” Rawat said.

The uproar in the House came despite Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank’s firm denial that there were no irregularities in the allotment process. He asserted that it was done in a transparent manner.

All these hydro projects, which were allotted last month, are in three broad categories – micro, mini and small.

The government had received nearly 736 bids from private developers in 2008, under the self-identified route. Out of the 736, only 621 bids were found to be valid and the rest were rejected.

A total of 12 local persons have also been allotted micro hydel projects. In the next phase, other projects would be allotted.

Though the government wants to allot more projects with capacity of 1,000 Mw, a decision in this regard has been deferred, a top official said. “We are yet to take a final decision regarding the allotment of remaining projects,” the official said.