Oppn attacks TN govt over solar deal with Adani group

Seeking to pick holes in a deal signed by the Jayalalithaa government with Adani group over a 648 MW solar power project, BJP and MDMK on Sunday joined hands with other opposition parties led by DMK in seeking an explanation from the government over the project’s pricing component.

“Despite having lower bidders (for setting up solar plants), the government has signed an agreement with Adani Group for generating solar power at a higher cost and the public should know details of the deal,” BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit president Tamilisai Soundarajan said on Sunday at Coimbatore.

State-run TANGEDCO (Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation) and Adani Group had signed an agreement on July 4 to set up a solar park tipped to be world’s largest to be located at a single place.

Under the deal, the Adani group will set up five solar power generation plants with a capacity of 648 MW in Ramanathapuram district at an investment of Rs 4,536 crore.

Tamil Nadu will buy power at Rs 7.01 per unit from the group as stipulated by the TN Electricity Regulatory Commission, the government had said when the pact was inked.

Seeking to corner the government, MDMK chief Vaiko claimed that “the Adani group had agreed to sell solar power at a cost of Rs 6.04 to Madhya Pradesh government which too had sought bids for 300 MW solar power plant.”

“Why did Jayalalithaa government ink a pact with Adani group for procurement of solar power at a higher cost,” he asked and urged the Chief Minister to “give an appropriate explanation to the people on the issue.” 

DMK treasurer MK Stalin also raised similar doubts over the deal.

“Electricity Minister has not explained why TANGEDCO plans to buy solar power from the Adani Group for Rs 7.01 per unit while wind power was available at Rs 3.50 per unit and thermal power at Rs 4 per unit,” he said in a statement.