Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has stayed procurement of solar pumps following allegations by opposition during the winter assembly session. The CM has instructed energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule to send officers to study the Gujarat model of solar pumps, till which time, he has stopped agreement with Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd, the sole contractor.
The state government had decided to allocate 10,000 solar pumps to farmers from 18 drought-affected districts including Marathwada, Vidarbha and western Maharashtra.
“The Maharashtra Power Distribution Company had floated a global tender for procurement of solar pumps in July 2015. Sixty-eight companies had approached Mahavitaran and Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd, Jalgaon, had qualified to supply solar pumps to the state,” said Mr Bawankule.
However, opposition leader in the state council, Dhananjay Munde, alleged that the rate of solar pumps in Gujarat was cheaper by over Rs 1 lakh as compared to that quoted by Jain Irrigation. Referring to this, Mr Bawankule said, “We have to pay 60 per cent amount once the pumps are installed in farms, 1.5 per cent in each quarter for the next five years, and remaining 10 per cent bill amount has to be paid at the end of the contract period.”
He added that Jain Irrigation had agreed to provide a service centre for every 500 solar pump beneficiaries and they would maintain solar panel and pumps.
However, Mr Munde said, “In Gujarat, five HP pumps cost Rs 3.5 lakh whereas Jain irrigation has quoted a price of Rs 5.40 lakh. According to the schedule, 60 per cent means the state will pay the initial amount of Rs 3.24 lakh to the contractor.” Mr Munde pointed out that Gujarat was providing pumps at the same price. Even if the state had to pay 100 per cent at the time of installation of pumps, it was affordable. On the other hand, Jain Irrigation would get an additional 40 per cent profit from the existing payment schedule.
Taking a serious view of the allegations, the chief minister stayed the procurement order and asked the minister to study the Gujarat pattern. Mr Bawankule confirmed that Mr Fadnavis had asked to send officials to Gujarat and bring bid documents. He said, “One of the directors from Mahavitaran will visit Gujarat on Monday and he will submit all documents to the chief minister, who will take a final decision on the bid.”
