Reliance UP power plant bigger fraud than Enron: V P Singh

New Delhi, July 9 (UNI) Calling the Reliance Energy power plant project in Uttar Pradesh as a bigger scam than Enron, former Prime Minister V P Singh today said farmers from all over the country would join him in the 'Dadri March'.

The 'Dadri March', on August 15, would be to protest land allotment to 'Reliance Energy Generation Ltd.' and atrocities committed by the police on agitating farmers on Delhi-UP border yesterday, Mr Singh said.

''We will expose the rule of corruption and favouristism of the Mulayam Singh government which was robbing the poor to feed the rich, powerful and industrialists,'' he added.

Questioning the 'dubious means' through which land for the power plant was acquired, Mr Singh asked how come no competitive bidding was done as was the common practise and power price not settled before the project, as was done in the Enron case.

''Favouritism like giving subsidy of 60 per cent of the project to such a huge profit-making company like Reliance and providing it with the land of 'gram samaj' without compensating it was a fraud by the Mulayam Singh government,'' Mr Singh said.

Even after two years, by when power generation at Dadri was to have started, no construction has been done, he said.

''Why is the penalty clause, if at all there, not being invoked for the delay in the project?'' he asked.

Rueing the fact that the fertile belt of the region, instead of wasteland, had been alloted for the power plant, the Jan Morcha leader said the land was not taken on market rate. ''Does the state acquire land for a project in the United States?'' he asked.

Stressing there was ''no political motive'' behind his step in view Assembly elections next year, the former Prime Minister said, ''All such fights'' would have to be fought consistently and regularly to stop injustice on the poor and weaker sections of the society.'' Mr Singh demanded corrective measures be immediately taken by the state government, including compensating for the farmers.

UNI AN AK PC1927