BJP seeks probe in power sector misappropriations
TNN | Sep 27, 2011

LUCKNOW: Accusing the state government of large-scale misappropriation - to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore - in the power sector, a BJP delegation met UP Lokayukta NK Mehrotra on Monday and demanded an independent probe into the charges. The delegation was led by party's national secretary Kirit Somaiya and vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

Later addressing the media, Somaiya alleged that after going through the evidence and official documents the party's anti-corruption cell has unearthed evidence that over past few weeks the BSP government had purchased power at an arbitrarily high rate of Rs 4.70 per unit. This, he said, is the outcome of government's tie-up with five select power trading companies. Though Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited can, during the term of the contract, get the supply from NTPC at a lower rate of Rs 1.50 per unit, the agreement makes it mandatory to buy power exclusively from these favourite players, he alleged.

Since none of them is capable of generating 2100 megawatt electricity, they plan to buy cheaper power from other states and sell it to Maya government at highly bloated rates. The Maya government in turn has committed itself to pay Rs 3,000 crore extra to this group of touts, BJP leader said.

The BJP has demanded that this agreement must be scrapped and a probe be ordered to nail the guilty.