MANGALORE : As Karnataka is reeling under acute power crisis, there is also an allegation that this was an artificial crisis created to suit the interests of a few. The government has until now not been able to give a satisfactory explanation on the cause of the power shortage.
Had the state really confronting power crisis, then what reasons prompted it to allow the Tannirbarvi barge mounted plant to be shifted to Kakinada when it was purchasing 220 mw of electricity from the plant ? There is no explanation to this from the power minister or other ministers in the district. At the same time, there is also a shortage of coal for power generation in the seven units at Raichur following the government’s failure to clear the bills of the companies supplying coal to these units. The government has also no answer as to why this was happening. But the simple answer is- the widespread corruption into the administrative machinery
Those who argue that the barge mounted project was asked to shift as it was providing power at a higher cost, have no answer when questioned if the Udupi Power Corporation Ltd would supply power at lower rates . The condition of UPCL and the barge mounted project is one and the same. Still, politicians are strongly after the UPCL giving room for much doubts.
The Central Electricity Regulatory Authority has sanctioned a basic capital of Rs 4299.12 crore for the Nagarjuna power plant of 1015 mw capacity on October 25, 2005. There is also a power purchase agreement wherein the company has to sell 16 per cent of the power generated to the government. But the power which the state is securing is very less while the cost is high. It is still not known how the government agreed for this high cost power. It is clear that there had been corruption even in invitation of tenders. A scrutiny of Nagarjuna records will reveal that there had been enough deals and understandings between politicians and local supporters of the project, says Nandikur Jana Jagrithi Samithi which has been waging a battle against the project.
More power generation
The Nagarjuna General Manager in a press communiqué issued recently has said the company would generate 1200 mw of electricity by investing an additional Rs 600 crore,helping the state solve the power crisis. This would mean that the project cost of the plant would be Rs 4899.12 crores. But the Samithi alleges that the company has installed China made equipment which are available at lower prices than the domestic equipment, and complains that the durability of these equipment was very less.
Finally, the company also has to answer the several other doubts with regard to the project. Who will benefit from a change in the project cost ? What is the benefit to the locals ? What is the amount pocketed by politicians ? How long will the company provide electricity at Rs 3 instead of Rs 1.56 per unit ? Isn’t it money that is forcing politicians to back this project which is hazardous to environment ? Will the company provide power at a price lower than the price of power supplied by the erstwhile barge mounted company
If these questions are to be answered then there need to be a CBI probe into the dealings of the company. The Nandikur Jana Jagrithi Samithi strongly feels that it is only a high level probe that would bring to light the irregularities in the process of implementation of this project.
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