Amid a raging controversy over allotment of mini hydropower projects in Uttarakhand, the State Government has removed its power adviser and Chairman of its Jal Vidyut Nigam overnight.
The decision to remove Yogendra Prasad from UJVNL, a State Government agency for power generation, was taken Wednesday night with the Government claiming that he was 65-years-old, which is three years more than the upper age limit of holding a post in a Government corporation, a Government source said.
When contacted, Mr. Prasad said he was removed as he refused to be part of the “irregularities being done by the Government” in the allotment of hydropower projects.
Mr. Prasad was made the power adviser during the tenure of previous N.D. Tiwari government. Later, he was also given the additional charge of Chairman of the UJVNL.
The allotment of 56 mini hydropower projects of total capacity of 960 Mw has created a major controversy in Uttarakhand, with opposition Congress demanding a CBI probe alleging widespread irregularities in the process.
Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank rejected this demand and said the final allotment is yet to be made.
