In the three years from 2013-14 to 2015-16, Gujarat government purchased electricity worth Rs26,195 crore from Adani Power, Essar Power, Tata Power and CLP.
Ahead of the upcoming elections, the Congress party on Thursday alleged a huge scam in power purchase, and accused the state government of allowing four private electricity companies to profiteer at the cost of people and the state exchequer.
Quoting figures tabled by the government in the assembly as well as information obtained under RTI, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that Gujarat government had purchased electricity worth a mindboggling Rs 62,549 crore from four private power companies between 2002 and 2016.
"In the three years from 2013-14 to 2015-16, Gujarat government purchased electricity worth Rs26,195 crore from Adani Power, Essar Power, Tata Power and CLP. This shows the culture of crony capitalism promoted by the state government," Surjewala said.
A Congress party release said that the state had purchased power worth Rs 10,896 crore from Adani Power, Rs 8,491 crore from Tata Power, Rs 4,842 crore from Essar Power, and Rs1,966 crore from CLP. "What is shocking, and shows systematic undermining of public sector entities by Gujarat government, is that government owned power plants were running at a capacity of just 33 – 38% during these years. As against installed capacity of 8,641 MW, these plants were producing only 3,283 MW power," he said.''
The Congress leader also claimed that while NTPC was supplying power to the state at Rs 2.63 – 3.17 per unit, the government had paid as much as Rs 24.67 per unit to CLP in 2013-14. He claimed that the same company was supplying power to Haryana at Rs 2.99 per unit.
"The stark difference in prices paid to a private company and the power PSUs, reeks of a scam," Surjewala alleged.
POWER STRUGGLE
- A Congress party release said that the state had purchased power worth Rs 10,896 crore from Adani Power, Rs 8,491 crore from Tata Power, Rs 4,842 crore from Essar Power, and Rs 1,966 crore from CLP.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Electricity Poles")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}