'Adani scam cannot be covered up': Congress after SECI CMD sacked
New Delhi (PTI): With the government sacking R.P. Gupta as the Chairman and Managing Director of Solar Energy Corporation of India, the Congress on Monday sought to link it to charges against billionaire Gautam Adani and his associates by US authorities and said the Adani "scam" cannot be covered up.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the public sector Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) was indicted on November 20, 2024, by US authorities in the chargesheet against Gautam Adani and his close associates.
"It was based on SECI’s recommendation that different states entered into purchase agreements with Adani. Bribes worth Rs 2,029 crores were then reportedly offered and promised to Indian government officials in exchange for these agreements, which were then finalised," Ramesh said.
In an implicit admission of corruption, in December 2024, SECI changed the way it issues power tenders, he said.
"Now the CMD of SECI, occupied by a post-retirement bureaucrat appointed by the Modi government, has been sacked just a month before his tenure ends," the Congress leader said.
Meanwhile, the Indian government is yet to respond to repeated requests by the US Securities and Exchange Commission to serve summons to Adani and the other accused.
"Despite the attempts at the highest levels, the Modani MegaScam cannot be covered up," he said.
In November last year, US authorities charged Adani, his nephew and executive director Sagar Adani and managing director Vneet S Jaain with being involved in an alleged scheme to pay bribes to Indian government officials to win solar energy contracts, and concealed the plan as they sought to raise money from US investors.
Adani Green Energy has said an independent review of its regulatory compliances related to an alleged breach that led to the indictment of founder chairman Gautam Adani and two company executives in a US court, did not find irregularities or non-compliances on the issue.
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Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
