May stop funds to states for power scheme irregularities: Piyush Goyal

Panaji: The Centre will stop funding states that are found indulging in irregularities in procurement of material for its flagship schemes for rural electrification and urban upgradation of power infrastructure, Power Minister Piyush Goyal warned on Thursday.

"I would request states which are not willing to join the common procurement pool to study its benefits, do an apple to apple comparison, compare the specifications (from central pool) to that being procured with your own specifications, compare the prices before you take any decision," the Union Minister said.

"Any irregularity spotted by us at the Centre could actually make us stop state funding," Goyal told the ministers and secretaries of states at a 2-day conference here.

"Dinadayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana and the integrated power development scheme are largely funding the investments in this roll out of rural electrification and urban upgradation," he said.

"We will be watching and closely monitoring the technology and quality of products that are being bought by the states. We will be monitoring the pricing at which these are being bought and transparency with which these are being purchased," he added.

"Any problems associated with the quality, technology, pricing or corruption that are brought to our notice will be promptly put up on the website (of the ministry)," Goyal said.

So, it is the choice that different states can make, he said, adding, "If you believe that you can do it better than central procurement, you are welcome. But the strength of this programme is the fact that we are all in it together and we are combining our procurement that would inevitably be fruitful".

During his half an hour long speech, the minister said that Maharashtra had earlier joined the operational efficiency part of UDAY scheme.