State power minister Jitendra Singh has refuted all charges of irregularities in the tendering process under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Power Mission.
Singh on Saturday clarified that the tendering for the projects under the mission was not done at the state level. Denying charges of irregularities by the state BJP in the tendering process, the minister said the projects for generation of 500 MW of solar power have been approved for the state under the first phase of the mission. He informed that 25 units would be set up in the state during the first phase.
The BJP on Thursday had alleged irregularities, demanding a factual report on the solar power projects in the state. This was done after Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment claimed that distribution of projects worth Rs 13,000 crore to bidders last year were rigged to favour some companies, in violation of the guidelines. It had accused infrastructure company Lanco Infratech of grabbing many of the projects under the garb of nine different entities.
Singh denied all charges and added that the state in order to promote solar energy had introduced the Rajasthan Solar Energy Act 2011. He claimed that the opposition doubting the economics of solar power only reflected their ignorance. "The state government is only involved in providing facilities to the investors. The rates for purchase of solar power would be fixed by National Thermal Power Corporation's power trading corporation,'' said Singh, in reaction to the BJP's allegation that while the generation cost is expected to be Rs 10 to 15 per unit, the government is expected to purchase it at Rs 5.
The minister claimed that the state's solar policy has been well appreciated and is one of the main reasons several investors have shown an interest to set up solar power plants in the state.
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