Two senior TNEB officials suspended over irregularities

CHENNAI: Two senior officials of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) were placed under suspension after irregularities were detected in the approval and allocation of green energy projects by the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation (TNGECL), Electricity Minister R Nirmalkumar said on Thursday.

The suspended officials are V Kasi, Chief Financial Controller (Revenue), and P Chandrasekaran, Chief Engineer (Non-Conventional Energy Sources). The action followed a series of review meetings conducted by the minister.

Nirmalkumar said Chandrasekaran had been suspended pending investigation into alleged procedural violations. Referring to Kasi, the minister said a CBI case was already pending against him and several allegations had surfaced against him. Both officials had been suspended to facilitate a departmental probe, he added.

The government has also temporarily withheld all retirement benefits of former TNGECL director (Technical) S Mangalnathan, who has been linked to the allegations under investigation.

Speaking to reporters, Nirmalkumar said the State government had initiated a comprehensive validation of procedures across the Electricity Department after the present administration assumed office. He said the review covered tender processes, regulatory compliance, solar energy project approvals and coal procurement practices for thermal power stations.

The minister said procedural lapses and irregularities had been identified in several sectors, including solar energy approvals, leading to disciplinary action against officials concerned.

Alleging irregularities in procurement processes, Nirmalkumar claimed that a 500 KVA transformer worth around Rs 8 lakh had allegedly been tendered at Rs 13 lakh.

He said the government’s immediate priority was to reform the administration before addressing the financial restructuring of the utility, which he said was burdened with nearly Rs 2 lakh crore debt.

On solar energy investments, Nirmalkumar said a transparent framework would soon be introduced for investors seeking approvals for solar panel projects.

“For anyone wishing to invest in solar panels from outside, a transparent system with a clear framework will be established. No one will be able to secure approvals through informal means, such as submitting requests on slips of paper,” he said, adding that a dedicated portal would be launched shortly.

No plan to raise power tariff

Nirmalkumar also dismissed speculation about a possible increase in electricity tariffs in Tamil Nadu. “The government has no intention whatsoever of raising them. False information is being circulated in this regard. Neither the government nor the chief minister has any intention at this time of increasing electricity charges,” he said.