Kerala’s Electricity Minister, K. Krishnankutty, recently disclosed in the Legislative Assembly that the former CEO of the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (Anert) bypassed government approval when issuing tenders for the PM-KUSUM scheme. This revelation comes after the CEO was replaced.
Confirming the lack of oversight, Minister Krishnankutty stated in a written response to the House that the State government had never sanctioned these tenders.
Responding to queries from United Democratic Front (UDF) MLAs, who highlighted that former Anert CEO Narendranath Veluri had initiated tenders amounting to ₹240 crore—significantly exceeding his ₹5 crore authority—Krishnankutty affirmed that a comprehensive department-level investigation is currently underway.
The controversy first erupted in August when senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala brought forth multiple allegations regarding the PM-KUSUM scheme’s execution in Kerala, leading to Mr. Veluri’s removal from his position as Anert CEO by the State government.
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) is a Central government initiative designed to promote the solarization of individual grid-connected agricultural pumps, aiming to boost farmers’ energy independence.
Minister Krishnankutty reassured the Assembly that the government is taking the alleged tendering irregularities seriously. He confirmed that the Additional Chief Secretary (Power) has been tasked with a thorough investigation and a report is expected soon, after which further actions will be determined. He stressed that directives have been issued to ensure the probe is completed promptly.
Despite these ongoing departmental efforts, the State government has yet to address Mr. Chennithala’s call for broader investigations by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) and a dedicated Legislative Assembly panel into the alleged corrupt practices.
In his August complaint to VACB director Manoj Abraham, Mr. Chennithala explicitly accused senior Anert officials of rigging the bidding process and contract rates. He alleged this was done to secure ‘undue pecuniary gains’ for the bidders, resulting in significant financial losses for the government.