Corruption reason behind Vimal Negi’s death: Power engineers’ body

The All India Power Engineers Federation has alleged corruption in the Pekhubela Solar Power Project in Una. It suspects that corruption can be the reason behind the death of Vimal Negi, Chief Engineer of the HPPCL.

Suneel Grover, patron of the All India Power Engineers Federation, submitted an affidavit to Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Chand Sharma, who is conducting an inquiry into Negi’s death, demanding the initiation of criminal proceedings against two officers named in the FIR – Harikesh Meena, former MD of HPPCL, and Desh Raj, former Director (Electrical), HPPCL.

Grover in his deposition before the inquiry committee alleged large-scale corruption in the Pekhubela Power Project implemented by the HPPCL. He claimed that tenders for the project were called in March, 2023, and the cost of the Solar PV module at that time was Rs 28 per kwp. “At the time of awarding the tender on May 15, 2023, the prices had fallen by 20 per cent and by as much as 50 per cent over the next 15 days. The HPPCL, however, did not negotiate the rates though the prices had fallen drastically,” Grover told the inquiry committee.

He said that the HPPCL awarded the 32 MW power project at an exorbitant cost of Rs 220 crore, which brings the average rate to Rs 6.8 crore per MW against the national average of Rs 3.5 crore to 4 crore per MW. “The cost of the awarded project should not have been more than Rs 120 crore,” he added. The other allegations of irregularities in the project included non-execution of the PPA, payment for drainage dewatering chamber, etc.