Procurement of smart meters a Rs 15k-crore scam, say BJP, JD(S)

Accusing the Congress government of favouritism and irregularities in the tendering process for the procurement of smart electricity meters, the BJP and JD(S) on Tuesday charged that a scam to the tune of Rs 15,568 crore had taken place in the procurement of meters. 

Addressing a press conference, JD(S) state youth president Nikhil Kumaraswamy demanded that the government invite fresh bids. He claimed that the government violated multiple protocols to favour a single company while inviting bids to procure the meters. 

BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan charged that smart meters, which cost between Rs 7,000 and Rs 8,000 in other states, were priced at Rs 17,000 in Karnataka, which is Rs 10,000 more.

“Even in Congress-ruled states like Himachal Pradesh and Telangana, smart meters cost Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000, whereas in our state, every possible rule, regulation and norm of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act has been flouted. Contract was awarded to companies blacklisted by the Uttar Pradesh government,” he said. Narayan said the government flouted 15 protocols of KTPP Act to favour a particular company.

“The government floated the tender for just 35 days, instead of the mandatory 45 days for global tenders. There is something fishy in this,” he said.

The former DCM said the scam was on a par with a similar one in Bihar, in which the energy minister and officials concerned were put behind bars in 2023.

“Other states are paying Rs 900 for smart meter installations, but our state has fixed a staggering rate of Rs 8,510. This is nothing but daylight robbery,” Narayan said.  

“Under the revamped distribution sector scheme, the union government is funding states for installation of smart meters and line improvements to reduce distribution losses. But Karnataka has not availed the benefit of the scheme yet,” he said.  “It is a staggering rise of around 400% to 800% in the prices of smart meters since the government did not opt for the scheme,” the former DCM said, releasing multiple documents in support of his claims.