Probe ordered into power meter purchase

Thiruvananthapuram, July 9: The Kerala Government today ordered an inquiry by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau into the alleged irregularities in the purchase of electronic power meters by the State Electricity Board during the previous UDF Government.

The government ordered the probe on the basis of the report of a preliminary enquiry by the previous governmnet in this connection.

However, it had not taken any action on the report. The Board made the purchase while Congress leader Kadavoor Sivadasan was the Electricity Minister.

It was alleged that the Board purchased sub-standard meters from a Delhi firm rejecting the lowest quotation from a State-owned company.

Describing the probe as "politically-motivated," Mr Sivadasan said the purchase was made by the Board and the Electricity Minister had no role in it.

UNI