Officers behind PPAs below scanner
Aman Sood
Patiala, February 19
The federal government has began course of to repair duty and nail the erring officers who allegedly drafted and added lopsided phrases to the ability buy agreements (PPAs) with unbiased energy producers (IPPs) through the earlier SAD-BJP authorities.
Evaluate underway
We’re reviewing all PPAs signed up to now twenty years. Those that are financially unviable and anti-people will likely be annulled legally. Primarily based on that motion towards the erring officers will likely be taken. — Harbhajan Singh, Energy minister
The Energy Ministry is reviewing the PPAs and in addition ascertaining the position of some officers who signed such PPAs which led to expensive energy buy for Punjab, regardless of three energy vegetation. The transfer comes forward of the AAP authorities finishing a yr in Punjab.
In 2021, a ‘white paper’ on the ability buy agreements (PPAs) was introduced in Vidhan Sabha by the then authorities in run as much as the election with out blaming anybody.
Energy Minister Harbhajan Singh informed The Tribune that energy sector specialists and the federal government have been finding out particulars of all PPAs and legally analyzing the identical. “We’re reviewing all PPAs signed up to now twenty years. Those that are financially unviable and anti-people will likely be annulled legally. Primarily based on that motion towards the officers who ignored the monetary viability will face the music,” he said.
A senior Punjab State Energy Company Restricted (PSPCL) official stated, “The federal government should act towards officers who drafted such PPAs that ensured that Punjab continues to pay tons of of crores with none assure of energy even throughout peak season,” he added.
VK Gupta, spokesperson, All India Energy Engineers Federation, stated the flawed PPAs made by “sure officers” proceed to bleed PSPCL and the ability customers of the state by crores.
“The then authorities was in such a rush to finalise the PPAs with the personal turbines that they didn’t hassle in regards to the tips of Centre. Tenders have been finalised with out bothering for the supply of coal provide. The upper gross calorific worth (GCV) of coal was assumed with out figuring out the precise coal provide supply. The precise GCV and coal charges as prevalent then in state thermal vegetation ought to have been taken as tips,” he added.
“With out finalising for the supply of coal for these personal energy vegetation the speed of coal and its transportation have been assumed from the closest coal mine to maintain the levelised value under the producing value of Lehra Mohabatt and Ropar thermal plant,” he stated.