Govt uphelds decision to allow Reliance Power to use excess coal from Sasan

30 Apr 2012 Evaluate

The ministerial panel under finance minister Pranab Mukherjee has upheld the decision that allowed the Anil Ambani's Reliance Power to use excess coal from Sasan power project's mines to fuel its Chitrangi generation plant. In August, 2008, an EGoM had given approval for Reliance Power to divert surplus coal from the Sasan blocks for another project in Chitrangi. Both projects are in Madhya Pradesh.

The issue became controversial when Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) last October said in a draft audit report that government’s decision resulted in windfall gain of Rs. 1.20 lakh crore to the private developer. The CAG has since reduced its windfall gain estimate to Rs 15,000 crore.

Tata Power, which participated in the bidding for the Sasan UMPP, has also challenged the government's decision in the court.

The EGoM had sought the Attorney General’s (AG) legal opinion in a bid to defuse the controversy. The AG has now interpreted the decision taken in 2008 as a correct decision and has also clarified the ambiguity about the interpretation of the term ‘surplus coal’. It stated that surplus coal is such coal... That is available after satisfying the needs of a UMPP.

Hence the EGoM has decided not to review its decision but has recommended that policies be made comprehensive so that there is no ambiguity in the future.

 

 

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