Chennithala seeks Vigilance probe into alleged corruption in PM-KUSUM implementation

Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, MLA, has sought a Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) probe into the alleged corruption in the implementation of the Pradhana Manthri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) scheme in Kerala by the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (Anert).

In his complaint to Manoj Abraham, Director, VACB, on Saturday, Mr. Chennithala urged the VACB to register a case and initiate a detailed investigation into the tendering process and other aspects of the implementation of the Centrally supported scheme.

Mr. Chennithala reiterated his charge that top Anert officials were involved in the manipulations in the selection of bidders for the PM-KUSUM scheme and the award of contract work’s rate “with a view to obtain undue pecuniary gains to the bidders as a whole and thereby caused wrongful loss to government.”

Foul play alleged

With respect to the tendering process, he alleged foul play in the elimination of the lowest bidder from the field of choice. Mr. Chennithala pointed out that only a proper investigation can bring out the total monetary loss sustained by the government on account of the irregularities.

A fair investigation is also needed to ascertain how the Union government guidelines pertaining to the implementation of the project were breached, Mr. Chennithala said. In connection with the PM-KUSUM scheme, Mr. Chennithala had levelled serious charges against Anert and its CEO Narendranath Veluri through the statements in the media. On its part, Anert had published an official refutation of Mr. Chennithala’s claims on its website.

Among its aims, PM-KUSUM envisions solarisation of individual grid-connected agricultural pumps. Anert had been picked as the agency for its implementation in Kerala.