U'khand cancels 56 power projects

The Uttarakhand government today cancelled the allotment of 56 hydel projects in the state, hours before the matter was to be heard by the High Court on alleged irregularities in the allotment process.

Fresh bids would now be called for the projects, under the self-identified route. The government said letters of award issued for the projects to different companies now stand ‘redundant’. The remaining bids have also been cancelled.

Meanwhile, the High Court said Almora-based NGO, Jan Hakdari Morcha, which filed the petition against the government and alleged irregularities in the allotment process, is free to file another public interest litigation in the future, if left unsatisfied with the process.

The opposition, led by Congress, had also been seeking a probe into the controversial allotment — the government had awarded projects to liquor firms and some unknown companies — by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The opposition also alleged that more than three projects were awarded to an individual (or company) under different names, violating the 2008 power policy.

Under the policy, the government received 741 bids for setting up hydel projects up to 25 megawatt(Mw). Of the total, 56 projects with a capacity of 960 Mw were early this year allotted by the government to the questioned companies. A committee, chaired by energy secretary Utpal Kumar Singh, took the decision to cancel the bids.

The Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL), the nodal agency for the allotment of hydel projects, has been directed to advertise a fresh invite for bids under the self-identified route.

Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhiryal Nishank is believed to have flown in to Delhi to consult the Bhartiya Janata Party high command over the issue. Party President Nitin Gadkari had already given a clean chit to Nishank, saying there was nothing questionable about the procedure.