Andhra Pradesh: Power officials dump local conductors
The scam, which took place during Krishna Pushkaralu, came to light recently.
Vijayawada: In the name of importing covered conductors from Sweden, some senior Andhra Pradesh Southern Discom (APSPDCL) officials have allegedly dumped local material and charged Rs 24 lakh per km wiring and Rs 3 lakh towards labour charges. This is the second scam in the past two years in the APSPDCL. Earlier, the corporation faced the ire of the government, following the allotment of contract to one Kadapa-based electric company at the rate of Rs 1,350 crore on nomination basis, which is still under investigation. When the issues were brought to the knowledge of principal secretary (Energy) Ajay Jain, he said he would inquire into the matter.
During Krishna Pushkaralu, the APSPDCL had invited contract for laying covered conductors across 150 km within Vijayawada urban limits, for which an Indian company, in collaboration with a Sweden company, was given contract on nomination basis. The price quoted for laying of covered conductors per km was Rs 24 lakh and Rs 3 lakh was labour charges, which is in contrast to the existing charges offered by the company earlier.
The issue became controversial and was placed before the higher-ups also, but somehow, it was managed for a brief time. The internal vigilance wing of the APSPDCL has again investigated the entire episode and come to a conclusion that money transactions took place during the time of awarding the contract-on-nomination basis.
When the same issue was brought to the knowledge of the principal secretary (Energy), he said the issue would be addressed and necessary action initiated against the guilty. The APSPDCL higher authorities are estimating the exact loss and trying to fix the guilty officials.