Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala raises more questions on Anert solar pump tender

Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Ramesh Chennithala, MLA, has raised more questions related to the alleged irregularities in the ₹240-crore tender for the installation of solar pumps under the PM Kusum scheme.

Addressing the media here on Tuesday, he said Kerala Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty was reported to have said he was willing to hold talks on the allegations. Mr. Chennithala said he too was ready to engage in talks but these should be held in public.

The Congress leader asked if the Minister was willing to have a forensic audit of the deals undertaken by the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (Anert) in the past five years.

Mr. Chennithala asked if the chief executive officer (CEO) of Anert, who is allowed to issue tender calls for projects only up to ₹5 crore, had sought his permission for the ₹240-crore tender. He asked if the department was also aware of the cancellation of the tender.

He pointed out that the CEO was reported to have said that the company which submitted the least quoted amount for the bid had sent an email saying it was withdrawing from the process. “Was this e-mail forwarded to the department? Why is the government not implementing the decision taken by the Anert executive committee to fix a basic rate for solar plants? How much funds released by the Centre as subsidy for the project was spent by the State? How much was taken back?” he asked.

Mr. Chennithala also sought to know if the CEO had asked to give tender-related works to a temporary employee who later joined a private consultancy.