Ranchi, March 11 (IANS) The Jharkhand assembly was on Friday once again disrupted by the opposition protesting against the state government allegedly favouring the Adani Group in setting up a 1,600 MW thermal power plant at an investment of Rs.10,000 crore.
"The Jharkhand Energy Policy 2012 has been overlooked while signing the MoU with Adani Group to set up 1,600 MW thermal power plant in the state. The power generated from the plant will directly go to Bangladesh," Pradeep Yadav, a Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM-P) legislator, said.
According to the policy, 25 per cent of the installed capacity of any thermal power plant set up in the state would go to the state and price per unit would be decided by the Jharkhand Electricity Regulatory Authority, Yadav said.
"Adani group will provide 25 per cent power from an alternative source, which is violation of the policy. We demand Judicial or SIT probe into this irregularity," he said.
He said the state government was extending special favours to Adani. "For Adani the land rate has been reduced to Rs 13 lakh per acre from Rs 1.25 crore per acre in Santhal Paragana."
The state government dismissed the allegations as baseless.
"The charges are baseless. As per MoU, Jharkhand will get 25 per cent of the power from other sources. If Bangladesh does not take its the full share, then that will go to the state," said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Rai.
"The frequency and format of power will not change if the state gets 25 per cent power from other sources. The power will be supplied to Bangladesh by a dedicated transmission line. The decision was taken considering the international relationship," Saryu Rai said.
The opposition members boycotted the house and did not hear the reply of the government.
The opposition parties this week brought adjournment motions twice on their allegation that the state government reduced the land rate in Santhal Paragana area, where the power plant is to be set up, to help the Adani Group.
Their protests over the issue have stalled Jharkhand assembly more than once this week.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator Stephen Marandi, who brought in an adjournment motion over the issue on Thursday, had also alleged malfeasance.
"The state government, through an order dated October 28, 2015, lowered the rate of the Santhal Paragana land up to 80 percent. First time in the history of India, land rate has been reduced up to 80 percent. The land rate has been reduced to help the Adani Group."
