The Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam limited (JUVNl) has justified the step to allot repair and maintenance work to the Central Government enterprise Bharat Heavy Electricals limited (BHEl).
Coming strongly in defence of the decision of erstwhile electricity JSEB the newly formed company after unbundling of the Board cited numerous examples of works given on nomination basis to BHEl looking at the expertise of the PSUs.
The CBI is probing the allegations of inflated cost incurred on the maintenance of PH-I and PH-II of 65x2 MW capacity hydro power project on Subernarekha river at Sikidiri. It was charged that the work was given to BHEl on nomination basis on March 21, 2012 at the cost of about Rs20.87 crores and deliberately overlooked the estimate prepared by the engineers associated with the project.
“Three years ago I saw the emergency situation when I visited Sikidiri. I found that the machines are trembling like anything. It was causing break ups in ring, pad and other systems every now then due to vibration. I found that anytime flooding would take place at the power house and loss would be of Rs200 crore and ordered to stop the machine, called the BHEl people, got the estimate, selected them which was approved by the Board for Rs20 crore. Today there is no leakage, no vibration, and it generates 130 MW at full load,” said Chairman cum Managing Director of JUVlN SN Verma.
The engineers had prepared a proposal for complete overhauling of its turbines and accessories for less than Rs2.5 crore, much below the BHEl’s. The agency has on October 20 as well inquired officials of the JUVNl in this connection.
The CMD nevertheless sees no merit in the charges.
“It is a hydro project built by BHEl. All over the country where there are BHEl machines those have been repaired by BHEl only. Because it is a highly technical machine and BHEl has all the maps and designs with them. BHEl is managing over 50 power project in the country built originally by them. Barauni, Kanti all are being done by them on nomination basis. At our PTPS, they have done this. I did the same thing for Sikidiri which was not been done for so long for many vested interest,” added Verma.
He instead pointed towards some kind of understanding of local contractors with leaders and blamed that for the futile controversy.
The CMD went on to add that the repairing works were done locally earlier for petty sums without any permanent solution. This caused the machines getting shut down every now and then, leaking with water and not generating full capacity power.
“This is a propaganda for the benefit of the local contractors who were doing jobs for Rs50 lakh or so without any result. I have stopped all of them. Why to get the job done by those who do not know the jobIJ”
He also counted on the benefits the State has received since the plant has undergone maintenance by BHEl.
“Now you can see the improvement. Earlier, it was running for three months and now it runs for five months. For another 10 years, nothing has to be spent. I challenge that any expert come and say that the machines are not ok. I don’t know why this hue and cryIJ We have earned Rs52 crores and 57 crores in the first two years after the repair and now are in the third year. It means we have earned Rs100 from Sikdri in addition to power generated. The cost was Rs20 crore which has not been paid to BHEl yet. What loss we are talking about every time,” added the CMD and termed the work a delayed step which should have been done much before.