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Kurdukar panel begins probe into Dabhol project

The one-man commission, headed by former Supreme Court judge S P Kurdukar, on Friday began a probe into the controversial deal between US energy giant Enron and Maharashtra State Electricity Board.

Following pressure from smaller constituents of the Democratic Front ruling coalition, the Congress-led government had appointed Kurdukar, exercising powers conferred by section 3 and 5 of Commissions of Inquiry Act.

The commission would probe into validity of all the agreements, clearances, concurrences, licenses, permits under the relevant laws relating to electricity and the failure of governance, if any, official sources said.

It would also look into the correctness of all representations made by now bankrupt Enron or Dabhol Power Company about costs, project costs, financing and other projections that affect the PPA tariff, the technical and operating parameters of the plant and all aspects of the plant and its tariff, they said.

The commission would probe the circumstances in which PPA was negotiated, cancelled and renegotiated. It will look into role played by persons associated with the decision making process and the circumstances in which the phase II contract were made binding and whether the decisions taken were in the interest of the state, sources said.

The commission would also verify statutory clearances, licenses, permits and approvals, they added.

A media release by the government said that individuals and organisations willing to submit their representations before the commission should ensure that their representations reach the commission's office on or before February 28 and are addressed to the Chairman, Dabhol Power Project-Inquiry Commission, Room no 704, Arun Chambers,Tardeo, Mumbai-400034.

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