Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala on Sunday posed 10 questions to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the alleged irregularities and corruption in the award of contracts for two KIIFB-assisted transmission projects being implemented by the Kerala State Electricity Board.
In his letter to the Chief Minister, Mr. Chennithala expressed protest at the manner in which the Chief Minister and the Minister for Power had dodged his charges. Instead, the KSEB had come out with statements that were devious and false.
Mr. Chennithala wanted the Chief Minister to clarify if the government orders were not applicable to the KSEB, a government-owned company. The KSEB had apparently not followed the government order issued in 2017 on the procedures to be followed while processing tenders that quoted in excess of the estimates. Mr. Vijayan should clarify whether the KIIFB was merely a financial agency as claimed by the KSEB. He wanted to know the rationale of paying 10% interests for masala bonds and charging just 8-9% for loans to the KSEB.
Delhi rates
He wanted to know whether the government or the KSEB board had approved the adoption of Delhi Schedule rates instead of the usual State PWD rates. He sought to know if the State Electricity Regulatory Commission had given its green signal for adopting the Delhi rates.
The government should clarify whether it was prepared to re-examine the preparation of estimates carried out by a single official of the KSEB. He sought to know whether the Vigilance had carried out quick verification of the Transgrid project.
He wanted Mr. Vijayan to clarify if the government would order a probe into the allegation that ₹11 crore was spent on moving earth from the KSEB Chithirapuram Yard as against the original estimate of ₹11 lakh. He asked the Chief Minister to make it clear whether the government would examine why pre-qualification norms were being changed frequently while processing tenders for the Transgrid project.