Govt's 3-member panel to settle green disputes

NEW DELHI/JAIPUR: The renewable energy ministry is setting up a three-member panel of "eminent persons of impeccable integrity" to resolve "unforeseen disputes", including issues beyond contractual agreements, between government-designated project implementing agencies and developers or contractors.

The committee is to be set up with the approval of the power and renewable energy minister RK Singh, the ministry said in a June 7 order. The members will be chosen from eminent persons located in the national capital region (NCR) to avoid expenditure on travel and accommodation. The upper age limit for selection has been set at 70 years.

The move is aimed at checking the rising number of disputes, especially over time extensions, which hurts the pace of renewable capacity addition as the government chases a goal of 500-gigawatt clean energy capacity by 2030.

This dispute-resolution mechanism will cover all renewable energy schemes, programmes or projects being implemented through or by the designated agencies such as SECI, NTPC, NHPC and SJVN, the ministry order said.

The mechanism will also be applicable for implementation of contractual agreements between agencies and contractors, provided the implementing agency undertakes to accept the dispute-resolution committee's decision. But contractors or project developers cannot approach the dispute-resolution panel straight away in case of a dispute. They will first have to approach the designated implementing agency.

The panel can be approached if the project developer or contractor does not get a fair deal on the dispute.