Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh challenged the integrity of the bidding process, accusing the state government of manipulating the tender conditions issued on March 13, 2024, to favor the Adani Group and reduce competition by deviating from the Standard Bidding Guidelines.
“Here are 5 questions for the non-biological PM on his new joint venture. Is it not true that – The terms and conditions of the tender issued by the Maharashtra Government for bids on 1600 MW thermal and 5000 MW solar on March 13, 2024, were modified from the Standard Bidding Guidelines to minimise competition?” he said in a post on X.
Ramesh pointed out that there were discrepancies in the cost structures, highlighting that the tariff for the 1,600 MW thermal power component is around Rs 12 crore per MW, which is substantially higher than the Rs 7 crore per MW that Adani has reportedly contracted with BHEL. This cost also surpasses the expenses at which other major providers like NTPC and DVC are implementing large-scale thermal projects.
He questioned whether the Rs 28,000 crore project cost would be entirely financed by agencies under the Maharashtra ministry of power and noted that Adani Green’s bid for solar power is priced at Rs 2.7 per unit, compared to the current market rate of Rs 2.5 per unit, potentially leading to increased tariffs for Maharashtra’s 2.7 crore consumers.
“Tariffs for solar power are in the Rs 2.5 per unit range but Adani Green will be supplying power at Rs. 2.7 per unit? These revdis (freebies) distributed to the Adani Group will put a heavy burden of tariff on the 2.7 crore consumers in the state of Maharashtra?” Ramesh said.
Ramesh said even as the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra “totters towards a landslide defeat”, they choose to spend their last few days in power pursuing a “Modani enterprise”, giving the Adani Group a giant power purchasing contract.
The allegations by the Congress party come as the Mahayuti government approaches the end of its term, with state assembly elections soon.
The Congress claimed that the deal, awarded to Adani Power at a bid price of Rs 4.08 per unit, was manipulated to benefit the business conglomerate.
Adani Power’s bid, which was nearly a rupee lower than the current procurement cost in Maharashtra, was chosen over competitors such as JSW Energy and Torrent Power. The deal is set to begin 48 months from the date of the letter of intent, with the aim of addressing the state’s future electricity requirements.