TN govt cancels Adani-linked smart meter tender over high costs
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) has canceled a global tender for procuring smart meters, previously awarded to Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (AESL), citing the high cost quoted by the company.
Issued in August 2023 under the central government's revamped distribution sector scheme, the tender was divided into four packages. AESL, a BSE-listed company, emerged as the lowest bidder for Package 1, which involved installing over 82 lakh smart meters across eight districts, including Chennai.
On December 27, 2024, the Tamil Nadu government announced the cancellation of the tender for all four packages. While the cost factor was highlighted as the primary reason for rejecting AESL's bid, details regarding the cancellation of the other packages were not disclosed.
The decision comes amid ongoing allegations against Gautam Adani, the promoter of the Adani Group, accused of paying over USD 250 million (approximately Rs 2,100 crore) in bribes for favorable solar power contracts. Adani Group has denied the allegations, even as US prosecutors proceed with indictments in the case.
TANGEDCO is expected to reissue a tender for the smart meter project in the near future.
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SC judges to make their assets public, amid row over cash at Justice Yashwant Varma’s house: Report
New Delhi: The Supreme Court judges have reportedly agreed to disclose their assets to the public by publishing the same on the top court's website.
The decision was taken recently at a full court meeting and a resolution in this regard was adopted which will apply to future judges as well, as reported by Bar and Bench on Thursday.
A copy of the resolution is yet to be made public.
According to the report, the decision was taken in the wake of recent controversies surrounding opacity in the functioning of the judiciary, especially after a huge pile of cash was allegedly discovered at the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma, currently a judge of the Allahabad High Court.
The publication of assets on website was not mandatory earlier but was discretionary subject to whether an individual judge wanted to do the same, the report added.
