Solar panels in 129 hospitals
BHOPAL : RTI activist Ajay Dubey, social activist Sushil Levy have come face to face with Madhya Pradesh Energy Development Corporation over irregularities in installation of solar panels in state hospital and invited managing director Manu Shrivastav for an open debate on the matter.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Dubey presented a detailed report pointing out the discrepancy in the reply given by the corporation to high court.
The solar panels were to be installed in 129 hospitals in the state for which funds were given by the World Bank and central government by 2012.
Due to the failure of the corporation to install solar panels, funding and new projects were cancelled by central government in 2013 and in 2014, the corporation was asked to stop the ongoing work at 70 places and return the amount. The orders were to install batteries of 1200KW instead of which batteries of 800KW were used.
Activists have demanded termination of the managing director for corruption of about Rs 100 crore. Dubey said, “The state is to set up worlds largest power plant in Rewa on which rupees 10 thousand crore will be invested. When the corporation cannot install solar panels in state hospitals what will be the fate of such an ambitious project?”
On the other hand managing director, MP Urja Nigam Limited, Manu Shrivastava refusing to the allegations made by Ajay Dubey said, “The tender issued by us was based on the revised orders of the central government, which was done to reduce the cost. The batteries installed with such capacities are very costlier. Also there is no point in installing batteries where power supply is available. As of the open invitation for debate, I have no clue about it”.