Himachal wants to re-allot hydro-power project to Brakel
July 25th, 2010 - 5:14 pm ICT by IANSShimla, July 25 (IANS) The Himachal Pradesh government wants to re-allot a multi-million dollar hydropower project that is under litigation to the Netherlands-based Brakel Corp.
The government filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court last week, saying the it did not want to cancel the project allotted to Brakel “as it’s in the state’s interest”, authorities here said Sunday.
Brakel had ealier challenged in the apex court a High Court order cancelling allotment of the 960-MW Thopan-Powari-Jangi hydropower project in Kinnaur district to the company.
The High Court on Oct 7, 2009 had ordered cancellation of the allotment on a petition filed by Reliance Infrastructure, one of the bidders.
“We allow the writ petition and quash the decision of the council of ministers (to allot the project to Brakel) dated November 25, 2008, as being arbitrary, illegal and irrational,” the high court had said.
Subsequently, the government decided to invite fresh bids for the project. It even imposed a penalty of Rs.280.69 crore ($60 million) on Brakel for delaying the implementation of the project.
After hearing an appeal filed by Brakel, the Supreme Court March 15 issued notice to the state government for cancelling the project and inviting fresh bids.
In the affidavit, signed by Joint Secretary (Power) S.P. Paul, the government said “allotting hydropower project to Brakel is in the interest of the state”
The matter has been listed for hearing in the division bench of Justices Aftab Alam and B.S. Chauhan July 27.
The state government had signed an agreement with Brakel in 2008, two years after the project was awarded to the Dutch company, for starting the pre-construction activities for the project.
The project requires an investment of more than Rs.6,000 crore.
- Himachal losing Rs.100-cr a year on delayed hydro project - Apr 05, 2011
- Dhumal details loss due to delay in hydropower project - Dec 08, 2010
- Court notice to Himachal government over power project - Mar 17, 2010
- Himachal losing Rs.150 crore a year on power project - Aug 23, 2011
- Himachal penalises Dutch firm Rs.280 cr for project delay - Dec 05, 2009
- Himachal Pradesh to issue show-cause notice to Brakel - Oct 22, 2009
- Himachal court cancels allotment of hydropower project to Brakel - Oct 07, 2009
- Probe demanded into Himachal hydropower project contract - Oct 09, 2009
- Brakel gets more time to respond to Reliance Energy's petition - Mar 31, 2009
- Himachal court advances hearing on Brakel's hydropower project - Apr 23, 2009
- Reliance Energy takes Himachal government, Brakel to court - Dec 23, 2008
- Himachal Pradesh High Court dismisses Reliance Energy petition - Oct 30, 2008
- Himachal signs power project agreement with Brakel - Apr 09, 2009
- Himachal High Court dismisses Reliance Energy plea - Jul 31, 2008
- Himachal allows Dutch firm to begin power project work - Nov 25, 2008
Tags: 60 million, affidavit, aftab, alam, allotment, apex, apex court, bidders, construction activities, council of ministers, division bench, dutch company, himachal pradesh government, hydro power, mw, oct 7, pre construction, rs 6, state government, writ petition