Row erupts over bid to privatise power sector in Pondy; min refutes allegations

The letter sent by Adani Energy Solutions Limited (AESL) to the National Stock Exchange on Tuesday about the incorporation of its new wholly-owned subsidiary company, Adani Electricity Puducherry Limited, stirred up a major political controversy in Puducherry on Friday, with the opposition parties blaming the AINRC-BJP government for allegedly privatising the union territory's electricity department and selling it to the Adani group.

- BAGALAVAN PERIER B @ Puducherry

THE letter sent by Adani Energy Solutions Limited (AESL) to the National Stock Exchange on Tuesday about the incorporation of its new wholly-owned subsidiary company, Adani Electricity Puducherry Limited, stirred up a major political controversy in Puducherry on Friday, with the opposition parties blaming the AINRC-BJP government for allegedly privatising the union territory's electricity department and selling it to the Adani group.

Puducherry Home and Power Minister A Namassivayam, who met the media in the evening, however, strongly refuted the allegations and said the electricity department has not been handed over to any private entity.

AESL's letter, which went viral on social media on Friday, said the company has been incorporated on August 25 "for carrying out the business of production, generation, conversion, transformation, transmission, processing, storing, supply and distribution of electricity". It added that the new company is yet to commence its business operations.