Congress Demands JPC Probe Over 99 Percent Cost Slash in Adani Maharashtra Hydro Project

The Congress party has launched a sharp attack on the Central government after reports emerged that Adani Green Energy Limited wants to lower the cost of its 1,500 megawatt hydropower project in Maharashtra's Satara district by 99 percent.

The Cost Revision

A newspaper report claims the company has asked to revise the project cost down to 56.75 crore rupees from 5,675 crore rupees. This huge drop also cuts the money the company must pay for wildlife sanctuary protection to just 2.27 crore rupees instead of 227 crore rupees.

Official Investigation

A complaint was filed on October 30 on the Prime Minister's grievance portal and the Maharashtra government's Aaple Sarkar portal about the wrong project cost. After this, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change told the State Forest Department on November 6 to look into the matter quickly, and a probe has now started. The Adani Group, Maharashtra government, and the Centre have not given any immediate reaction to these claims.

Context

hydropower projects of this scale require major environmental clearances and financial deposits to protect local wildlife and forests from harm. The Indian National Congress has repeatedly demanded a joint parliamentary committee to investigate the business operations and growth of the Adani Group.