Vijayan said the Chief Minister had acknowledged taking the final decision on the basis of a file placed before him but had not explained why the Kerala State Electricity Board’s technically and financially assessed Himachal proposal was set aside in favour of an offer involving GNA Energy.
He questioned why the government had not released the complete correspondence, departmental recommendations and Cabinet records relating to the transaction. The disclosures were necessary, he argued, to establish whether the decision reflected the electricity board’s assessment and the views of Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph.
The opposition leader maintained that the minister had supported the Himachal proposal following discussions among officials. He asked what considerations persuaded Satheesan to depart from that position and whether objections raised within KSEB had been properly addressed.
Vijayan also sought disclosure of a detailed assessment by the board’s chief engineer and asked whether officials had warned that the alternative arrangement could impose substantial financial losses on the utility and consumers. Those allegations have not been independently established.
The dispute centres on the proposed procurement of electricity through GNA, an over-the-counter platform connecting potential buyers and sellers, rather than a conventional generating company. Vijayan questioned the identity of the eventual supplier and the legal and commercial basis for accepting the offer.
He challenged the government to explain why it considered the GNA arrangement the least expensive available option. He cited an estimated open-market price of around Rs 5 per unit against proposed GNA rates of Rs 8.63 and Rs 8.90, and sought an explanation for an earlier figure of Rs 8.48 appearing in the file.
The opposition leader asked whether the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission had indicated that purchases at higher rates were unnecessary between November 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027. He also questioned the evidence supporting the government’s assertion that GNA could provide greater quantities during peak demand.
Vijayan disputed the existence of an emergency warranting acceptance of a direct offer without a fresh tender. He alleged that the government was portraying the electricity supply position as more serious than it was to justify a costly procurement decision. The Chief Minister has rejected that allegation.
Satheesan, responding to earlier criticism on Friday, said the file had reached him through the electricity minister and had not been summoned by his office. He maintained that he examined the financial implications before deciding in the state’s interest, denying that he had improperly bypassed the minister or the electricity board.
The Chief Minister disputed Vijayan’s assertion that Himachal Pradesh had reduced its proposed tariff from Rs 14.50 to Rs 12.50 per unit. Citing an October 29 note by former KSEB chairman M G Rajamanickam, Satheesan said the lower figure could not be treated as confirmed without written acceptance from the competent Himachal authority.
Satheesan argued that the alternative arrangement offered more electricity during non-solar hours, when demand was particularly important, and could help conserve hydroelectric resources. He said the board had unsuccessfully conducted six competitive tenders and warned that failure to secure firm supplies could expose the state to prolonged power cuts.
According to the Chief Minister’s account of the file, GNA could provide 385 million additional units during non-solar hours compared with the Himachal arrangement.
(The article ‘Vijayan accuses CM of being evasive’ appeared first on Free Press Journal.)
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