The Adani Group, which has become the center of discussion and politics across the country due to falling share prices, has got a big blow from UP as well. Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam has issued an order to cancel the tender for the purchase of smart prepet meters if the rate is 40 percent more than the fixed rate. Adani Group was at the forefront of the race to win the tender despite being the highest bidder. The rate quoted by the Adani Group in the tender was the lowest among all other tendered firms. Since the order to cancel the tender has been issued, there has been a situation of tussle among the officers of the Electricity Department.
Chairman instructed MD Madhyanchal to look into the matter
After the order was issued by Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam, U.P. Objecting to the process of cancellation of the tender, the Chairman of the Power Corporation has ordered the Managing Director Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam to look into the matter. Power Corporation Chairman M. Devraj says that the meeting of the Central Store Purchase Committee has not been held before canceling this tender. It will be decided in the meeting of this committee whether to cancel the tender or not. MD has been ordered for this.
This tender was for the purchase of 70 lakh smart meters
The tender process for purchasing 2.5 crore prepaid smart meters in the entire state at a cost of about Rs 25,000 crore was completed recently. Adani Group also participated everywhere in the tender done in four clusters. In most of the tenders, the rates of this group have come minimum. Being the lowest one, there was every possibility of this group getting the tender. The rate given by Adani Group in the tender is more than Rs. 6000 per meter, which is around Rs. 10000. Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam had done this tender to buy 70 lakh smart meters for its area, which has been cancelled. The cost of procuring these smart meters was estimated to be around Rs 5,400 crore.
Petition has been filed in the Regulatory Commission to cancel the tender
In the tender drawn by Madhyanchal and other distribution companies, minimum three bidders including Adani, GMR and In Telesmart have been there. Their rates range from 48 to 65 per cent of the proposed rates. When the rate of smart meter purchase in the tender is much higher than the proposed rate, UP State Electricity Consumer Council President Awadhesh Kumar was protesting on every forum. Tender should be canceled for this, U.P. Also filed a petition in the Electricity Regulatory Commission. Had also spoken to Energy Secretary Alok Kumar on this issue.