SIGNING OF MOU BETWEEN OPGC AND TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL

SIGNING OF MOU BETWEEN OPGC AND TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL 21/12/2011
ODISHA NEWS

Orissa Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Transparency International India committing itself, its suppliers and contractors for adoption of Integrity Pact, a tool developed by Transparency International, to ensure that all activities and transactions between the company and their suppliers and contractors are dealt in a fair, transparent and corruption free manner.


The MoU was signed at the state secretariat in Bhubaneswar in the presence of Hon’ble Minister for Finance and Public Enterprise, Shri. Prafulla Ghadai, Hon’ble Minister for Energy, Shri. Atanu Sabayasachi Nayak, along with several senior Government officials, representatives of OPGC, TII, vendors of OPGC among others. On behalf of OPGC, Mr. Venkatachalam K, MD signed the MoU while Mr. P S Bawa, Chairman, Transparency International India was the other signatory of the pact.


Among the states Odisha has become the first State to have its PSU adopt and OPGC has become the first one to join hands with TII to pioneer transparency and fairness in its operation. As per the terms agreed upon in the MoU, OPGC will appoint competent and credible Independent External Monitor (IEM) in consultation with TII to review independently and objectively, whether and to what extent the parties comply with the obligations under this agreement.


Speaking on the occasion Mr. Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Energy Minister, Odisha said “It is a new initiative that has been taken by the state PSU OPGC and this will certainly bring transparency and transformation in the operations. It is important to implement this initiative towards creating corruption free environment and OPGC is committed towards transparency in all operations leading to better operational efficiency.”


Speaking on the occasion Mr. Prafulla Chandra Ghadai, Finance & Public Enterprises Minister, Odisha said “I must congratulate all the officials of OPGC for being the first state PSU to adopt this integrity pact with Transparency International India. However, utmost care need to be taken to properly implement this program and periodical review has to be maintained by OPGC for consistent improvement. This will help in checking corruption and bringing transparency in the society.”



It may be noted here that OPGC is a state premier Public Sector Organization incorporated with the object to establish, operate and maintain electric power generation stations and to develop coal mine and to pursue such other objective as are incidental and ancillary thereto. Currently, it is operating 2x210 MW power station at Ib Thermal Power Station, Banharpalli, Dist. Jharsuguda, Orissa and pursuing project development activities for capacity addition of 2x660 MW in the same location in addition to development of captive coal block in Sundergarh district. OPGC, which was incorporated on November 14, 1984, is a 51:49 JV between the Govt. of Orissa and AES Corporation, USA.

SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS, ODISHA