Bali questions amended norms for awarding hydropower projects

Shimla, Jun 17 (UNI) Former Himachal Pradesh Transport Minister G S Bali today questioned the BJP Government's decision to invite open bids on free power share while awarding power projects but keeping the upfront premium fixed at Rs 20 lakh per MW.

Addressing a press conference here, he said there should be open bidding for determining the upfront premium and also the free power share while awarding hydropower projects to private power developers.

The whole process should be fair and transparent and tendency on the part of the private companies to go in for further trading of project to third party should be curbed, he said.

Mr Bali said upfront premium through open bidding would ensure instant revenue to the government and the free power share would also go up in open competition, ensuring double benefit to the government.

The government should formulate transparent and unambiguous power policy, especially with regard to private sector participation in power development sector to avoid any suspicion, he added.

He said the independent power purchases (IPP) should be bound to complete the project within the stipulated period.

Accusing the BJP Government of adopting double standards, he said the BJP opposed the Ski Village Project in Manali, tooth and nail but did not scrap the project after coming to power.

Mr Bali said the BJP also levelled serious allegations of corruption in purchase of Volvo buses during his tenure but now the HRTC was purchasing more Volvo buses, vindicating his stand that there was nothing wrong with them and the purchase of buses was done in a transparent manner, he claimed.

Replying to a question, he said he was not interested in becoming HPCC president and Viplov Thakur was the president for all intent and purposes.

UNI AS PS BK PD VC1929