The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has blacklisted two firms from participating in any of its programs for a period of three years. These firms were found to be indulging in malpractices in the tenders for solar power projects.
The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is in charge of adding 15,000 MW of solar power capacity to the total targeted capacity of 100 GW by 2022 by auctioning solar power project capacity. Under the tenders it issued for Phase-II of the National Solar Mission, NTPC found M/s Emami Power Limited and M/s Oriental Sales Agencies (India) Private Limited indulging in malpractices. The agency then informed the MNRE on July 29, 2016 of the findings.
Following up on the same information, MNRE has officially barred the two companies from participating in any of the schemes or programs of the ministry for three years.
No specific details were shared regarding the alleged 'malpractices'. However, this can be seen as seriousness from the government's end regarding the massive renewable energy target of 175 GW installed capacity that it is trying to accomplish by 2022.
Not much is known about the two companies, except for that they share the same address in Kolkata and that they have previously participated in some other auctions organized by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) in the past.