Vedanta Issue in Assembly: The previous BJD government of Odisha had significant leniency toward Vedanta Company. During their tenure, the government waived electricity dues of ₹3,599.88 crore for Vedanta’s Jharsuguda unit.
This information came to light through a written response in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, which has sparked widespread discussion in the state politics.
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Congress MLA Mr. Tara Prasad Bahinipati questioned Odisha Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Kanak Bardhan Singh Deo with a written query. The query sought details on how many companies had their electricity dues waived and the criteria used for such waivers.
In response, the Energy Minister stated that during the previous BJD government’s tenure, a total of ₹4,097.67 crore in electricity dues was waived for 14 industrial entities. Of this amount, ₹3,599.88 crore accounted for Vedanta alone. The waivers were granted based on the state’s Industrial Policy and SEZ Policy during the 2015–16 fiscal year.
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Additionally, the minister mentioned that Paradip IOCL also benefited from a waiver of ₹314.03 crore in electricity dues under the terms of an MoU with the state government. The remaining 12 companies received waivers as part of the incentives outlined in the then-existing industrial policy of the BJD government.
This significant waiver for Vedanta has raised questions and sparked debates in various circles. Critics argue that granting such a substantial waiver to a company already earning considerable profits in the state has created doubts and concerns among the public. The discussion is going on among Odisha legislators that why BJD Govt waived Rs 3,599 Cr electricity bill and for what favour ?
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