Dehradun — The Indian National Congress on Wednesday intensified its assault on the Uttarakhand BJP government, accusing Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami of orchestrating a strategic shift that would channel a significant hydroelectric power project to the Adani group instead of leaving it with state-run public sector undertakings.
The controversy centres on a proposed 1,320 MW power project that was initially being pursued by the Uttar Jal Vidyut Nigam (UJVN) in partnership with the Tilak Nagar Dam and Hydro Development Corporation (THDC). According to Congress leaders, the state government abruptly killed this joint venture and subsequently revised 84 conditions embedded in the project's tender documents — changes they argue were carefully crafted to suit Adani's existing infrastructure at Korba in Chhattisgarh.
In a press statement, a senior Congress spokesperson questioned why the government would dismantle a functioning PSU-led framework only to create a vacuum that the Adani group could easily fill. "When a project already has the backing of two public sector entities with proven expertise, what compels the state to rewrite nearly 85 rules in the tender? The answers point uncomfortably toward corporate favouritism," the statement read.
UJVN, a subsidiary of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, and THDC India Ltd, a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Power, had been the original proponents of the hydroelectric venture in Uttarakhand. Both organisations have extensive experience in large-scale dam and power projects across the Himalayan region. The Congress accused the state government of sidelining these established PSUs without any transparent justification.
The 84 modifications allegedly include changes to eligibility criteria, financial bidding parameters, and technical specifications — alterations that Congress claims align precisely with the operational profile of Adani's Korba-based power facilities. Critics argue that such a rewrite undermines the spirit of competitive, equitable tendering and raises questions about transparency in how the state allocates natural resource-based projects.
Political analysts say the accusation is likely to become a central theme in the opposition's campaign ahead of upcoming elections in the state. The Congress has called on the central government to intervene and examine whether the tender modifications comply with national public procurement guidelines.
As of now, the Uttarakhand government has not issued a detailed response addressing the specific allegations, though sources close to the administration suggest the changes were made to attract larger private investment and accelerate project timelines.
