The Government and the Opposition once again faced off in the House on Friday, this time over the MoU signed with Adani Power for setting up a 1,600 MW power plant in the State.
Members of JVM and Congress alleged that special treatment was being given to the company for some ulterior motives.
JVM leader Pradeep Yadav, brining an Adjournment Motion, claimed that the Government had lowered the bar set in its own Energy Policy, 2012 for any private power company willing to set up a power plant in the State.
"There has been clear violation of the policy in the MoU signed with Adani Power. The Energy Policy, 2012 says that the State has first right over 25 per cent power generated from any private power plant on cheaper prices. But in the MoU, signed on February 17 this year, the company would supply the entire 1,600 MW generated to Bangladesh and that country would have first right of refusal," said Yadav.
The charge caused a furore in the House and led to repeated disruptions that in the end infuriated Chief Minister Raghubar Das.
"There is no merit in such allegations. We have the documents. The members just scream and try to dominate the House on a daily basis on different issues. It is a worry for democratic principles. We have been given the mandate by the people and are more worried about the people of the State than you. Don't indulge in vote bank politics over everything," said the visibly-upset CM.
However, the Opposition spoke in one voice on the matter demanding scrapping of the deal. This resulted in washout of the pre-lunch Session.
Notably, the Government was forced on Thursday to put on hold the notification that allegedly lowered land rates in Santhal Pargana to ease transfer of plots to corporate houses, including the Adani group.
later, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Roy presented a point-by-point rebuttal to the Opposition's charges that the MoU signed with Adani Power has been tweaked to favour the company.
On his part, Roy admitted that the entire power from the power plant at Godda would go to Bangladesh but the State would not suffer in any case.
"The agreement with Bangladesh for supplying 1,600 MW power was inked in January, 2010 and executed last year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to the country. It is a bilateral agreement signed between the two countries thus we have to ensure the desired power supply. But under the agreement, Adani Power has been given the responsibility to provide 25 per cent or 400 MW in this case, to the State from any other source. It is the responsibility of the company to give our due to us and also on the rate determined by the Jharkhand State Energy Regularity Commission only," clarified the Minister.
The MoU signed for Stage-I says that the State Government has agreed to the company's request to supply, as per the provision of Jharkhand Energy Policy, 2012, 25 per cent of installed capacity of 2X800 MW, i.e. 400 MW to Government of Jharkhand from other alternate sources at the notional tariff to be fixed by the JSERC. Adani Power has agreed to set up with around Rs 15,000 crore investment the coal fired plant in the State.
It is also mentioned that if Bangladesh refuses to procure the entire 1600 MW, the Jharkhand Government will have the first right to procure the balance power from the company. later, Roy repeated similar explanation when the House resumed in the afternoon.
"The MoU is in public domain. The company has agreed to supply 25 per cent power of installed capacity to the State. They may supply power from any source due to the international treaty but that does not change the quality or colour of the power to be supplied to Jharkhand! The argument Pradeep Yadav is giving is childish," he said while underlining the importance of Bangladesh for India and contribution of the nation in its formation besides, the obligation under international relations.