Congress: Adani group given 1,050 acres land at rate of Rs 1 per year

Patna: Congress on Monday alleged that industrialist Gautam Adani-led Adani Power Limited has been “given 1,050 acres of land at a rate of Rs 1 per year” and 10 lakh trees on the same land at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur district for setting up a thermal power plant.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, the chairman of the Congress’ media and publicity department, Pawan Khera alleged that the farmers in Bhagalpur were being forced and threatened to give up their land for the Adani Power Limited’s thermal plant. “PM Narendra Modi on Monday laid foundation stones for the same power plant,” Khera said.

Khera said that the land and trees, including mango, litchi, and teak, have been handed over to the Adani group for 33 years at a rate of Rs 1 per year. “This deal is for a 2,400 MW power plant at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur,” he said.

Khera added this power plant was announced in the Union Budget, where the central govt initially stated it would set up the plant itself. “However, the govt later backed out and handed the project to Adani,” he said.

There was no immediate reaction either from the Centre, the Bihar govt or the Adani group on the allegations of Khera.

The Congress leader also alleged, “This is a case of getting everything for nothing. Land, trees, coal, everything has been given to the Adani group. The power plant built with Bihar’s land and resources will sell electricity to the people of the state at a rate of Rs 6.075 per unit, while in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, the fixed rate is Rs 3 to 5. This a double exploitation of the people of Bihar.”