BJP leader Ashwath Narayan alleges Rs 15,568 cr 'misappropriation' in smart meter tender process
Bengaluru, Mar 25 (PTI): BJP leader C N Ashwath Narayan on Tuesday alleged that 'misappropriation' amounting to approximately Rs 15,568 crore has taken place in the smart meter tender process of Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) and other Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMS).
According to officials, a smart meter is an electronic device that records data such as electricity consumption, voltage levels, load, and various other technical parameters. This information is periodically transmitted to the server.
Accusing the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of "favoritism and irregularities" in the tender process, the MLA claimed that the scale of this misappropriation is even larger and emphasised that ESCOMs should adhere to the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) rules.
The former Deputy Chief Minister's statement came a day after the Energy Department dismissed allegations of irregularities in the installation of smart meters, with BESCOM MD Shivashankara asserting that the smart meter purchase price was determined scientifically and executed with full transparency.
Addressing a press conference, the BJP leader argued that the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) rules do not mandate the use of smart meters.
He stated that while smart meters can be made mandatory for temporary connections, they cannot be enforced for permanent and new customers.
Citing Central Electricity Authority (CEA) regulations, the former Minister explained that smart meters for new consumers can only be mandated after all existing meters have been replaced with smart meters.
"Smart meters are not mandatory, even under Central Electricity Authority rules. The bid capacity under the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act was not mentioned in the tender. It should have been Rs 6,800 crore," Narayan said.
The BJP MLA pointed out that under the KTPP Act, the required turnover should be Rs 1,920 crore, whereas the tender amendment contract value was specified as Rs 107 crore annually.
He further alleged that despite a rule stating that no blacklisted company should be awarded the contract, BCITS, which was blacklisted in Uttar Pradesh, was still considered.
"As per central government guidelines, an experience of installing just one lakh smart meters is sufficient. However, this tender required experience with 10 lakh ordinary meters, seemingly to limit competition and favour Rajashree Electricals," Narayan alleged.
He noted that the estimated cost of the project was Rs 571 crore but was later amended.
Criticising the "lack of transparency", Narayan said, "The tender was issued without specifying the total amount. The KTPP Act was not followed, nor were central government rules implemented. A contractor with no experience in manufacturing or installing smart or digital meters was considered."
Highlighting that smart meters have been installed at lower costs in Congress-ruled states like Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala, he pointed out, "In Karnataka, each meter costs Rs 17,000, whereas in other states, the price is Rs 7,740 per meter."
Recalling that an IAS officer and a minister were arrested in Bihar in 2023 over a similar scam, Narayan alleged that the Karnataka government had violated the KTPP Act at every level.
"This is daylight robbery. The (state) government must be held accountable. They are making smart meters mandatory without any legal backing," he alleged.
According to the BESCOM MD, as per the regulations, the tender process followed the Standard Bidding Documents provided by the Ministry of Power and complied with the KTPP Act.
The tender was issued on September 26, 2024. With the approval of the BESCOM Board of Directors, the contract was awarded to Rajashree Electricals, who submitted the lowest bid, on December 23, 2024.
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4 children test HIV positive in MP govt hospital; contaminated blood transfusion suspected
Satna/Bhopal (PTI): Four children suffering from thalassemia have tested HIV positive at Satna District Hospital in Madhya Pradesh allegedly due to contaminated blood transfusions, officials said on Tuesday.
The case is four months old and an investigation is underway into it, an official said.
Officials suspect the use of contaminated needles or blood transfusions for the spread of infection to the children.
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MP Health Minister Rajendra Shukla told reporters in Bhopal that he has ordered a probe into the matter and sought a report.
“It is also being investigated whether the blood transfusion took place in other hospitals also or only in the government hospital,” he said.
The affected children, aged between 12 and 15 years, received blood transfusions from the hospital's blood bank, as per an official.
Devendra Patel, in-charge of the blood bank at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel District Hospital in Satna, said four children have tested HIV positive and an investigation is underway to determine how they got infected.
"Either an infected needle was used or a blood transfusion occurred. These are the two main reasons I believe. Blood transfusion seems to be the most likely cause," he told PTI Videos.
All these children suffer from thalassemia, and some have received 80 or 100 blood transfusions, he said.
A family member of one of the affected children said that their child was found to be HIV positive during a routine checkup about four months back, and he has been receiving medication, but it had proven to be of no use.
After taking the medication for HIV, the child starts vomiting, feels low and becomes ill, he said.
After the four children were detected with HIV infection, their family members were also tested and the results came out negative, he added.
The Opposition Congress targeted the government over the matter and demanded the resignation of Health Minister Shukla.
Speaking to reporters in Bhopal, Congress MLA and former minister Sachin Yadav claimed such incidents were continuously occurring in Madhya Pradesh.
Earlier, a case of toxic cough syrup came to light in Chhindwara, followed by incidents of rat bites at hospitals in Indore and Satna, and now children have been given HIV-infected blood, he said.
"The health minister is unable to manage the department. He should resign. A murder case should be filed against those responsible for the Satna incident," Yadav said.
Senior Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma termed it a failure of the government. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's government has no connection with ground realities, he charged.
"Somewhere rats are roaming in hospitals, somewhere children are being given HIV-infected blood. Instead of preventing HIV, you are spreading it. Mohan Yadav should wake up from his slumber. Children are the nation's heritage and should be taken care of," he added.
