Meghalaya paying Rs 137 crore extra for smart meters: Mukul Sangma in letter to PM Modi
India Today
Mukul Sangma urged PM Modi to initiate an inquiry into the purchase of “overpriced smart meters” by the Meghalaya government, alleging that there was a massive discrepancy of Rs 137.55 crore in the price paid by the state government and the price on the open market.
Former Meghalaya Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Sangma on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate an inquiry into the purchase of “overpriced smart meters” by the Meghalaya government.
The Leader of Opposition of Meghalaya, in his letter to PM Modi, alleged massive financial irregularities in the smart meter contract awarded by the state government.
Sangma alleged that the state government had purchased 1.8 lakh smart meters at Rs 11,242 per metre. He claimed that there was a massive discrepancy of Rs 137.55 crore in the price paid by the state government and the price on the open market.
Sangma, in his letter stated that the Letter of Award on the bid for the supply of 1,80,000 meters was awarded to two companies, namely - Satnam Global Infraprojects Ltd and JPM Industries with Inhemeter Co. Ltd as joint venture partner.
The former CM in his letter further said that Inhemeter Co. Ltd being a Chinese company took the financial viability away from local companies and awarding a contract to this company did not “align with the core idea of Make in India”.
Sangma further said, “It also creates a security threat as these smart meters have SIM cards installed in them and are connected to the wider mobile internet network which could allow malicious hackers and India’s adversaries to gain control of the entire power system in the state.”
“You have always claimed that there is zero tolerance for corruption in New India. Your commitment to ensuring a corruption-free India gives me great expectations and hope that the government of India will order an immediate inquiry into the matter through an appropriate central investigation agency,” Sangma stated in his letter.
