Tussle Between Mantris And Bhabhus Delays The J&K’s First Solar Power Project

Dark times to continue as the only solar power project has stuck in the bureaucratic scuffle.

Refuting the allegations that deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh had tried to award a contract of 700 crore solar power project to a private company, the Director of the company under question has said the project has already been approved by the previous NC-Congress regime in 2013.

Addressing a press conference here in Srinagar, the Director ‘Then India Energy Pvt Ltd’ Adil Khan said it was the Science and Technology department in 2013 when Feroz Khan was its minister and the then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah  was holding portfolio of power development department who approved this project with regard to setting up of 100 MW Solar Photovoltaic Plant at Chhan Arorian in Kuthua to his company.

“I have been pursuing to set up the project on my own land. But I have been facing hurdles for being a Kashmiri. I have been suffering because of the tussle between politicians and bureaucrats for my no fault,” he said.

 

IMG_8761

He said the story which  appeared  in a Jammu based newspaper was not based on facts and deputy chief minister didn’t do any favour to him. “I don’t understand why my company’s name was mentioned in the story and why an allegation was made that deputy chief minister favoured me in issuance of the project without  tendering. My project has already been approved in 2013 and I am waiting for signing of the PPA ( Power Purchase agreement) with the PDD. I am doing solar farming on my land with my money then there is no question of issuing tenders or favouring of any political party ,” he said.

A Jammu based newspaper has reported that Principal Secretary PDD Sandeep Nayak was transferred from PDD on October 19th after he refused to allot a Rs 700 crore project without tenders to one of the favourites of the deputy chief minister and minister of power Nirmal Singh.

The newspaper in its report has said that ‘Then India Energy Pvt Ltd” had established contact with Nirmal Singh after his taking over as Dy Chief Minister and Minister incharge Power through one Anirudh Chandel of Pacca Danga, Jammu, and started efforts to get the allotment of the Rs 700 crore solar power project in Kathua without facing competition by other contenders.  National Conference has demanded a high-level probe into allegations against the deputy chief minister.

Khan showed an order copy of 2013 No ST/Adm/19/2012 in which the then commissioner secretary Science and Technology had approved the project and had requested the PDD to facilitate the demarcation of the identified land to the developer agency and had said there is no investment of the state government in the project other than facilitation with respect to statutory clearances. In the letter, the order copy has further asked the PDD to execute an open access agreement under the conditions laid down in JKSERC.

In April 2015, a meeting was held headed by Chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayyed  that was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh,  Science and Technology minister Sajad Gani Lone, Finance Minister Haseeb Ahmad Drabu, Youth Services and Sports minister Imran Raza Ansari, MoS IT and Finance Pawan Kumar Gupta besides BB Vyas Principle Secretary CM, Saurabh Bhagat Secretary Information, Mohammad Akbar Wani CEO JaKeGa, Shafat Sultan CEO JaKEDA, Satnam Singh Director (F) IT/S&TD besides some senior officers of various departments where Science and Technology minister has requested the Chief Minister that solar power plants can be established over a short period of 3-6 months and enhance the power availability.

The documents reveal that  Hon’ble Chief minister has urged for same type of Solar Power Plant for Kashmir Division  and also  directed the concerned department for facilitate signing of PPA  under rules and regulation set by SERC with the Developer so that first of its kind  100 MW  Solar Power Plant is commissioned without delay .

“I went to Principle Secretary PDD Sandeep Naik and he didn’t sign the file for PPA. I have burnt my midnight oil for the success of this project. If Government further delays my project then I will be forced to sit on the hunger strike,” he added.