Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Monday informed the Assembly that around Rs 50 crore belonging to the private company for the Pekhubela Solar Power Project in Una, was forfeited by the state government. He also said that the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) is now operating the project.
Responding to a discussion raised under Rule 63 by BJP MLA Bikram Singh from Jaswan-Pragpur, Sukhu said the state had encashed a Rs 22-crore performance guarantee of the company and stopped an additional Rs 17.81 crore in payments.
“We have forfeited around Rs 50 crore of the company. The total worth of the project is Rs 220 crore. I know the company will approach arbitration, but I am confident that the government will win the case,” Sukhu said.
The BJP MLA has alleged the plant was at a very low elevation instead of the required 356 meters, due to which it has submerged. Some cables and 10 inverters among other critical equipment were damaged, he said. “A generator is currently being used to drain water out of the project site. It will require an additional Rs 50 crore for the plant to restart.”
Rejecting the MLA’s allegation, Sukhu said: “The project was not drowned; it was made non-operational due to incessant rains.” The CM said the 32 MW project is expected to resume operations by September 15.
The project spanning 49 hectares, which began on April 15, 2024, was being executed under an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract.
The MLA also questioned the handing of the project to a single private company that was entrusted with the project for eight years. He alleged that the company has abandoned the site after receiving 99 percent of its payment and even took some inverters.
Story continues below this ad
The BJP MLA also alleged the annual energy output target of 32 MW is yet to be achieved.
“No penalties were imposed despite the company failing to meet conditions. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) was amended 15 to 20 times to benefit the private company,” he said.
He also questioned the state for ignoring an SJVN (Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam) offer to build a solar plant similar to the Bikaner model.
Raising concerns over alleged irregularities in HPPCL, Bikram Singh said the CBI is already probing several matters related to the corporation.
Story continues below this ad
In a sharp rebuttal, CM Sukhu said, “Bikram Singh seems to have a Pekhubela phobia; we will give him an injection for it.”
As BJP MLA Bikram Singh pointed out to the death of a senior officer linked with the project, the CM said: “I know (what) the BJP MLA is talking about… death of Chief Engineer Vimal Negi is being probed by the CBI. If a BJP MLA has some evidence establishing wrongdoings… he should hand over the documents to the CBI or the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which is under the control of the BJP-led Central government.”
