Judicial inquiry commission on power issues slaps notices on KCR again

Hyderabad: Second time in less than a month, the judicial inquiry commission led by retired justice L Narasimha Reddy that has been probing on power purchase agreements (PPAs) and power plants contracts, has served notices on former chief minister of Telangana K Chandrasekhar Rao to appear before the commissions and produce evidence against the witnesses on certain allegations in entering PPAs and also on awarding contracts on nomination basis for construction of two thermal power plants Yadadri and Bhadradri during the BRS govt tenure.Along with him, sources in the commission said, former energy minister G Jagadish Reddy has been asked to clarify on the issues.
Sources in the commission said while the notices were sent to KCR on June 19 giving one week time to appear and clarify under section 8(B) and 8 (C) of the Commissioners of Inquiries Act, 1952.
So far, the commission served notices to 28 officers including retired and serving principal secretaries, secretaries working with the energy department, chairman and managing directors of Telangana Transco and Genco, BHEL serving and retired officers.
The ex-CM approached the high court questioning setting up the commission and also against the notices alleging the notices were arbitrary, illegal, ultra-virus and also contrary to the provisions of Inquiries Act. Ten days ago, KCR shot off a letter in response to the first notice saying that he said the commission has no power to probe PPAs that were approved by Telangana State Electricity Regulatory Commission. (TSERC). He also charged the commission with a partisan attitude and asked him to step down from the commission.
It is learnt that the commission’s latest notices were based on the deposition of some complainants including Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) leader M Kodandaram, Telangana Electricity JAC leader Raghu, power issues expert Venugopala Rao and others.
“While the KCR maintained that the PPA with Chattisgarh has been approved by the Telangana Electricity Regulatory Commission (TSERC), some people who deposed before the commission said the TSERC was only given interim order and even asked to come back with amendment to the MoU. But the state govt did not come back,” sources said. They also said the technology and equipment used in the Bhadradri was the old one and it was forced on the state govt by the BHEL. The officials also alleged the state govt had incurred a loss of Rs 6,000 crore as a result of Chattisgarh PPA.