Nov 29, 2012, 10.23 PM IST

PIL seeks CBI probe into contracts for UP power projects

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file its counter- affidavit on a petition demanding a CBI inquiry into the awarding of contracts, by the previous Mayawati government in the state for installation of two power projects in Allahabad district, to the Jaypee Group allegedly in violation of norms.

Source: PTI

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The Allahabad High Court on Thursday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file its counter-affidavit on a petition demanding a CBI inquiry into the awarding of contracts, by the previous Mayawati government in the state for installation of two power projects in Allahabad district, to the Jaypee Group allegedly in violation of norms.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Shiva Kirti Singh and Justice Sanjay Mishra passed the order on a PIL filed by Abrar Ahmed, who has alleged that contracts for the aforesaid power projects had been awarded "against law" and caused a huge loss to the state exchequer.

The Mayawati government had sanctioned two power projects in the Karchhana and Bara tehsils of the district, with a total capacity of 1,360 MW. The Jaypee Group was given the contract. The court has fixed December 17 as the next date of hearing in the matter. Significantly, the acquisition of farmers' land for the proposed power projects in the remote Trans-Yamuna region of the district has also been a major bone of contention.

Construction has been affected on a number of occasions in the past few years on account of agitation by villagers unhappy with the compensation that was offered to them.