Kerala - Alappuzha   

Call to prosecute Pinarayi for alleged role in Lavalin deal

Staff Reporter

Employees' confederation to organise marches

ALAPPUZHA: Kerala Electricity Employees' Confederation State general secretary Sajeev Janardhanan has demanded that CPI (M) State secretary and the former Minister for Power Pinarayi Vijayan be prosecuted for his alleged role in the SNC Lavalin deal which, according to the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, had resulted in loss to the State exchequer.

At a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr. Janardhanan said the federation would organise marches and meetings at all electrical circle office centres on February 16 to press their demand to prosecute Mr. Vijayan.

Discrepancies detected

Mr. Janardhanan said that when the Accountant General of Kerala had pointed out discrepancies in the SNC Lavalin deal, CPI (M) All-India secretary Prakash Karat had said that it was not a final report and he would react after the final report was submitted.

`Now that the final report of the CAG has been published, Mr. Karat should take action against Mr. Vijayan who was the Power Minister who fixed the Lavalin deal, Mr. Janardhanan said.

He added that after assuming power Mr. Vijayan had entrusted CITU leader E. Balanandan to study whether there was a need to renovate Pallivasal, Sengulam and Panniyar projects and an expert committee, headed by Mr. Balanandan, had found that only maintenance work needed to be executed.

BHEL offer

The Balanandan committee had also observed that public sector Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. had expressed its willingness to undertake the renovation at an estimated cost of less than Rs.100 crores, said Mr. Janardhanan.

He added that Mr. Vijayan had facilitated the KSEB to sign an agreement with SNC Lavalin disregarding the Balanandan committee recommendation.

Mr. Balanandan should also make public his opinion on the issue, he said. Mr. Janardhanan also demanded that the Government take steps to appropriate the amount from the accused in the deal.

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Call to prosecute Pinarayi for alleged role in Lavalin deal

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