NEW DELHI: Even as the Maharashtra Government review committees’ report on Enron has finally recommended the scrapping of the2015 mw power project in Dabhol, representatives of the US based transnational had tried very hard to salvage the project and had reportedly sent feelers last week that they ‘may consider reducing the capital costs by Rs 1,100 crore. However, this was not acceptable to the BJP. Informed sources said that word had been sent back to the power giant that it must bring down the cost by one billion dollar, or Rs 3,200 crore. The review committee’s report is larned to have shown that the costs of the project had been padded by 30%. ‘The decision to scrap the controversial power project finally came as it became increasingly clear to party leaders that anything less would fail to send a clear political signal, For the BJP, the issue is no longer one of just fighting corruption or lack of transparency. It plans now to counter “foreign economic imperialism” and this is going to be a major election plank of the party in 1996. Though the Shiv Sena leaders were at one time talking about finding a middle path, the issue has become politically too hot for them also 10 backtrack, even if they wanted to.
The BJP’s senibr leaders, who had professedly loft the decision to the Maharashtra Government, have been greatly exercised on the Enron issue in recent days and opinion has been sharply divided. The delay in the submission of the Munde committee’s report had fuelled speculation whether the state government would retain the project and go in for some modification.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 28, 1995
