M A I N   N E W S

Adani firm behind power crisis, claims Hooda; writes to PM
Naveen S Garewal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 6
Grappling with acute power shortage, the Haryana Government has shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi blaming Adani Group’s Gujarat-based firm supplying electricity to the state for the crisis.

“Haryana is facing a severe drought due to extremely deficient rainfall this season. The demand for electricity has shot up manifold. Unfortunately, M/S Adani Power that was supplying approximately 1,424 MW electricity from its Mundra Project (Gujarat), has suspended supply to the state since August 27...this has created a crisis situation,” said Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in his letter. He has sought immediate intervention of the PM in the matter.

The Adani company, however, said the power supply to Haryana was discontinued sometime back due to the breach in contract conditions by the state government. “Along with the Adanis, the Tatas had also stopped power supply to the state for the same reason,” said a company spokesman.

The Congress government in the state, which is expected to go to the polls in October, is facing flak from Opposition parties over dismal power situation which has worsened due to severe coal crunch. The Congress sees a “BJP conspiracy” behind the move by the Adani firm to snap power supply to state. Senior Congress leaders have discussed the issue with the Chief Minister and told him that the power crisis was threatening to put the ruling regime in a disadvantageous position in the poll-bound state. The party has decided to launch an “awareness campaign” to suggest that “the BJP had influenced the decision of the Adani company to create power shortage in Haryana.”

“I have told the Prime Minister that an intervention was required at the highest level to resolve the situation. The Central Government must take a decision in the overall national economic interest,” said Hooda.