There have been irregularities in the allocation of and correspondence pertaining to the solar and wind power projects, along with the Pumped Storage Projects (PSP ) . These projects have been red-carpeted for those companies even though they are not qualified legitimately and inexperienced in the line of activity. Further, the State Government is open to land-grabbing exploitation of natural resources in North Andhra and Rayalaseema with private players near and dear to CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy. It has been identified as per the sources, that around 2.50 to 3.50 lakh acres of revenue, forest and private lands have been ordered by the AP State Government authorities to alienate for ineligible companies in the name of power generation projects.
Already, the State Government is trying to alienate around 1.50 lakh acres of land for the benami companies in Rayalaseema alone. Further, From Nellore to North Andhra, the land grabbing to the benami companies may be over 1 lakh acres in the name of power generation agreements with the State Government. Though we questioned it in the presence of the print and electronic media for last 7 months, there has been no reply till now and maintaining the silence by the State Government.
Shirdi Sai Engineering Limited and Indosol Solar Private Limited companies are related as Sister concerns have the same promoters, Nareddy Visveswara Reddy and Kataru Ravikumar Reddy. Openly known that both of them are also the closest associates of AP CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy and allegations have been floated that What is the rationale behind CM Jaganmohan Reddy for giving preference to these companies for the tenders from the supply of power transformers and electricity metres to all kinds of power generation projects? This question is in speculation around the general public in the State.
As per the information, Indosol Solar Private Limited entered MOU/Agreement with the State Government for the investment of Rs 20,836 crore for the incorporation of Solar Pannel manufacturing unit. In this connection, promoter of Indosol Solar Private Limited wrote a letter to the State Government (Special CS for Energy of AP) dated 19 October 2022 as seeking for 2.50 lakh acres of the land at Rs. 3,00,000/- per acre for setting up Solar park. We questioned on 8th March 2023 in a press conference hold at Visakhapatnam about the source of investment when the Company Authorised Capital was for Rs. 10 Lakhs and Paid Up Capital for Rs. 1 Lakh only , Where is the money for this company’s investment of 20,836 crores and if available, whose money is it? But, there is no reply till now and questioned it again on 2nd November, 2023 at Vijayawada.
Going into details, Indosol Solar Private Limited bagged the total of 7200 MW power projects for the captive consumption to incorporate the Solar Pannel manufacturing unit , which have been allocated in 2200 MW Pumped Storage Hydro Power (Paidipalem East 1200 MW & Paidipalem North 1000 MW), 3500 MW Solar Power (Anantapur & Kurnool District) and 1500 MW Power ) as per the Date of Proposal from the Indosol Solar Private Limited to State Government was on 23.08.2022, for which the GO No. 19 had issued by the State Government on 12 .09 .2022 – That was less than a month after the request from the company.
Further, the date of receipt of acceptance letter from NREDCAP : 28 .09 .2022 for the approval of all the above power projects. It is evident that after completion of all the required work as per the predetermined mind set. When we questioned the air speed for the approval of the power projects for their well wishers companies of the CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy, the State Government and it’s authorities have no courage to tell the truth when asked that the MOU for the same projects was entered at a later date after completion of all approvals and issued necessary GOs. In general, initially both the Government and the Company shall enter MOU and then in the process necessary approvals and GOs will be issued to get the project in to operation. But, here it is reverse.
Then, Shirdi Sai Engineering Limited same promoter Nareddy Visveswara Reddy has been allotted 1200 megawatts pumped storage hydro power projects consists of Somasila – 900 megawatts and Yerravaram – 300 mega wattsp by the Government of Andhra Pradesh irregularly without following the due procedure. As far as financial strength of this company is, The Authorised Capital and Paid Up Capital of this Company : 35.50 Crores only,
Indosol and M/s Shirdi Sai Electricals Limited are the same promoters, so the financial strength of both the companies have been even combined together do constraint to handle this much of huge power projects. As per the information, 2.50 lakh acres of land is being trying to looted by these two companies for 8,400 mega watt power projects and solar panel project as approved by the YS Jaganmohan Reddy led YSRCP Government. Apart from this, it is estimated that together with electric transformer and electric Metre contracts already offered to these companies by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the total loot of public money is about one lakh crore without any transparency in the tender process for this group of companies.
In addition to this, Aurobindo Realty & Infrastructure Private Limited, promoter Saratchandra Reddy is already an approver in the Delhi Liquor Scam , this company has obtained for the allocation of 800 MW Hydro Power Project in Nandyal District, through GO No. 18, Date: 12.09.2022 from the State Government of Andhra Pradesh.
In addition to the above-mentioned companies, the state government had issued GOs for thousands of mega watts of hydro, solar and wind power projects in a similar manner to other companies, and then showed them at the investment summits later on and misled people it as new MOUs. It is reported that operation to loot government, private and forest lands ranging from 3 lakh acres to 4 lakh acres has started in Rayalaseema and Nellore district to North Andhra.
In this whole affair, the Central Government company NHPC Ltd., which has 45 years of experience in hydropower projects with the capacity of Capital investment for Rs. 31,500 crores, has been sending correspondence since 21.10.2021 for 7 Pumped Storage Project for 6,600 MW to the Government of Andhra Pradesh. For which, the Union Ministry of Power had been continuously requested the State Government of Andhra Pradesh led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for approval of their DPR from October 21, 2021 till December, 2022. But these projects had been unscrupulously allotted to the inexperienced companies in this line of activity like Shirdi Sai Engineering Limited and Indosol Solar Private Limited and some others in the place of 45-year-experienced Union Government’s NHPC Ltd.
As per the observation, most of the renewable and pumped storage power projects in the state have been allotted to the followers and associates of benami companies, with the blessings of the CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy and they are trying to establish a situation in the state where no one else in the state can set up new power projects without their permission in the future. It is apparent fact, that any entrepreneur, whether domestic or international, should step in Andhra Pradesh to carry out pumped storage projects (PSP) or renewable energy businesses without the stakes or favour to the existing projects allottees .
It is very important to keep in the mind the judgments given by the Supreme Court on various occasions regarding the responsibilities of governments in the case of natural resources and public resources. Unfortunately, the way the Supreme Court suggested allocating the natural resources in various judgements are in contradiction with the current State Government in Andhra Pradesh and it is subject matter for impeachment in the judiciary.
(Views expressed by the author are personal)
