Mahto demands CBI probe into DVC affairs

Jamshedpur, Jul 7 (UNI) Jharkhand deputy chief minister Sudhir Mahto today charged the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) and demanded a CBI probe against the DVC chairman into the reported 'misappropriation of crores of public money.' Talking to the mediapersons here, Mr Mahto said he met the Union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde recently and apprised him the state of affairs in DVC through a five-page letter and requested the minister to order a CBI probe against the Corporation chairman Asim Barman.

In his letter Mr Mahto brought some charges against Mr Barman alleging that he was involved in financial scam and also indulged in nepotism.

Mr Mahto alleged the chairman was using his good office to appease the West Bengal government while overlooking the interests of Jharkhand.

Mr Mahto further alleged that Mr Barman had been continuously favouring BHEL by awarding contracts which escalated the overall cost to DVC by more than 4.5 crores per MW.

He said the estimated cost of 1000 MW thermal power plant for the Mejia, Koderma and Durgapur projects was Rs 4800 crores while in Haryana and Rajasthan the 1200 MW power plant was being constructed at Rs 3800 crores.

Mr Mahto suggested, ''In order to make the investigation by the CBI quite fair, the unworthy officer should be removed from his present assingnment.'' He said Mr Barman was not heeding any request for the development of Jharkhand and was giving priority to his personal interest over the organisation.

Mr Mahto said that Mr Shinde had replied to his letter and assured to initiate a thorough probe into the matter.

UNI