Maharashtra Energy Minister To Provide Legal Reasoning For Failure

Maharashtra energy minister Padamasinh Patil, who had promised to finalise the terms of reference for the commission of enquiry in the Dabhol power project within the week ended July 24, is likely to inform the state legislature the legal reasoning against doing so tomorrow.

On Wednesday, Patil told the legislative council for the second time that he would be making a representation on the terms of reference of the commission of enquiry on Thursday.

However, highly placed sources said that, considering the advice by advocate general Goolam Vanhavati, the state government was unlikely to frame the terms of reference of the commission of enquiry into the Dabhol project during the pendency of two petitions currently before the Supreme Court.

The first case was filed by the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and covers the whole gamut of issues related to the Dabhol project such as the various clearances issued to the project.

CITU has only recently begun revising its application before the apex court. The second petition has been filed by Dabhol Power Co(DPC), which has challenged the jurisdiction of the MERC to arbitrate upon its dispute with the MSEB.

MSEB for its part has refused to advise the government on the aspect of the judicial enquiry into the project as it is a contracting party to the power purchase agreement.