New Delhi: State-run NHPC Limited has been included by the MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy) under the purview of its Dispute Resolution Mechanism, an official notification released by the Ministry said on Wednesday. "…Considering that NHPC has been authorised by the MNRE as its RE Implementing Agency, it has been decided with the approval of Hon'ble Minister (NRE & Power) to include NHPC Limited under the purview of aforesaid Dispute Resolution Mechanism/ Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC)," the notification said.
In June 2019, the Centre had approved the formation of a three-member Dispute Resolution Mechanism to consider unforeseen disputes between solar/wind power developers and state-run SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India) and NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation), beyond contractual agreement. The latest amendment has now included NHPC, along with NTPC and SECI, within the purview of the mechanism.
The news comes just days after the MNRE notified the reconstitution of the Dispute Resolution Mechanism. On July 23, the MNRE had announced a rejig of the Mechanism in the wake of the appointment of AK Dubey as Administrative Member of CAT (Central Administrative Tribunal). The new list of members now includes PK Basu (former Agriculture Secretary, Ex-IAS, BH:1976), Rakesh Kacker (former Food Processing Industries Secretary, Ex-IAS, TN:1977) and MF Farooqui (former DOT Secretary/ Heavy Industry Secretary, Ex-IAS, TN:1978). Dubey has been replaced by Kacker on the panel. The DRC's role is to primarily examine all cases where the developer is not satisfied with the decision of SECI, NTPC or NHPC and decides to appeal after paying the required fee.
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