Harish Rao Alleges Irregularities in Singareni Solar Tenders
Harish Rao Alleges Irregularities in Singareni Solar Power Tenders
Former Telangana minister and BRS leader T Harish Rao on Thursday alleged large-scale irregularities in solar power and mining-related tenders issued by Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad on January 23, Rao accused the Congress-led state government of facilitating financial losses to the public exchequer through tailored tender conditions.
Allegations Over Ramagundam Solar Project
Rao alleged that tenders for a 107 MW solar power plant at Ramagundam were structured to favour a specific contractor. While the project originally involved three separate sites, the government allegedly merged them into a single tender, restricting participation by micro, small, and medium enterprises. He claimed that a mandatory site visit certificate was introduced to further limit competition.
According to Rao, the contract was awarded to Guilty Power Limited, with the project cost fixed at ₹5.04 crore per megawatt despite Singareni land being used. He stated that the national average cost for solar power generation is ₹3.5 crore per megawatt, with land typically arranged by private developers. Rao alleged that this resulted in a ₹540 crore contract designed to benefit favoured entities, leading to an additional ₹250 crore burden.
Claims of Overpricing in Another Solar Plant
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Rao also flagged alleged irregularities in a separate 67 MW solar project, stating that the per-megawatt cost was nearly double the national average. He claimed that the project was awarded at ₹7 crore per megawatt, amounting to ₹480 crore, again citing restrictive tender conditions. Rao alleged that combined excess payments across projects amounted to nearly ₹500 crore.
Explosives Purchase and Mining Tenders Questioned
Raising concerns over explosives procurement, Rao alleged that Singareni directors were pressured to approve purchases at 30 per cent higher prices. He claimed that one director resigned after refusing to sign, while another was transferred for non-compliance.
Rao further alleged manipulation of overburden removal tenders at the Sripuram open-cast mine, where a ₹600 crore work tender reportedly saw repeated postponements of the financial bid stage after technical bids were opened. He attributed the delays to alleged attempts to finalise arrangements with preferred contractors.
Demand for Central and Judicial Probe
Questioning the continuation of tenders at Prakasham Khani worth ₹1,044 crore under similar conditions, Rao demanded their cancellation. He also called for a CBI probe or a sitting judge-led inquiry into Singareni tenders, urging Union Minister G Kishan Reddy to intervene. Rao demanded that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy constitute a special investigation team to probe the allegations.
Rao warned that failure to act would damage Telangana’s credibility and said his party would continue to present documentary evidence related to the tenders.
