APCC demands CBI inquiry into Kameng scam

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Dec 14: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has demanded a CBI inquiry into the 600-MW Rs 400-crore Kameng Hydel Project scam.

Talking to newsmen at Rajiv Bhavan in the city today, APCC leader Avijit Mazumdar said: “NEEPCO got the contract of the project in 2004. It, however, outsourced the job of construction of the power house, the dam and tunnels to Patel Engineering Ltd (PEL) at Rs 391 crore. In accordance with the agreement signed between the Centre and Aruchal Pradesh government on the project, the State Government will have to provide land, stone, water and sand for the project against 12 per cent free of cost power to be produced by the plant. However, the Arul Pradesh Forest Department refused to provide stone from the very spot mentioned in the agreement. The department gave nother spot for the collection of stone which is too far from the project site. Taking this advantage, Patel Engineering Ltd charged a whopping Rs 400 crore only on transportation of stone, and the amount has already been paid.”

Mazumdar said: “There had been a nexus in the entire episode. The cost of the power project escalated to Rs 1,200 crore against the origil cost of Rs 391 crore due to delay in the project work. Because of the cost escalation, a consumer will have to pay Rs 2 more per unit of power. How reasoble Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju sending a letter to the Union Power Ministry on such a sensitive issue can be guessed by everybody.”