Govt in a fix over granting extension to UPCL MD

Dehradun, July 10

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The state government is in a dilemma over granting extension to Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) Managing Director SS Yadav, who is embroiled in a sting controversy.

Yadav’s tenure as the head of the state power corporation ends on July 24. Considered close to the corridors of power, Yadav is keen on an extension but with a sting CD showing the official allegedly taking money from someone in the public domain, the state government finds itself in a fix over his extension.

The sting video was shown by many channels and it went viral on the social media last month, prompting the Congress to ask Chief Minister Harish Rawat to send the official on forced leave till his name was cleared in the controversy.

Though state Congress presidednt Kishore Upadhyay’s demand was not conceded, the Chief Minister ordered an inquiry headed by Additional Secretary Niraj Khairwal into the CD controversy. However, official sources said the probe had made no progress till date.

Meanwhile, the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have been opposing extension to Yadav and are also demanding a CBI probe into his functioning as the state power corporation MD.

Asked whether or not Yadav would be given extension, Chief Minister’’s media adviser Surendra Kumar evaded a direct reply saying “an appropriate decision will be taken when the time comes”.—PTI