MNRE Appoints Members For Dispute Resolution Commitee For RE Projects

MNRE Notifies Members For Dispute Resolution Commitee For RE Projects. Photo-Pexels

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has now notified the names of the members of the proposed Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC). This DRC was mandated to resolve the disputes between the renewable energy developers and designated government PSUs like NTPC, SJVN, NHPC, and SECI, among others.

As per the new notification, three retired IAS officers–M F Farooqui, Rajesh Bhushan and Kumar Alok will spearhead the DRC. The Ministry earlier on June 7, 2023, issued an order for setting up of a Dispute Resolution Mechanism to consider the unforeseen disputes that might arise in the implementation of contractual agreements and also for dealing with issues that are beyond the scope of contractual agreements between the renewable energy power developers/EPC contractors and SECI/NTPC/SJVN and other renewable energy implementing agency (REIA), designated by MNRE. 

The last order from the MNRE in 2023 proposed the establishment of a Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC). The idea was to set up the body to settle disputes between renewable energy developers/EPC contractors and renewable energy implementing agencies (REIA). 

As per the mandate of the Ministry, DRC needed to have three members whose candidatures would be approved by the Union MNRE Minister. The Ministry has fixed the upper age limit of the members at 70 years. MNRE has specially planned to appoint only DRC members from Delhi to avoid travel costs. 

As per the mandate, the petitioners can use the mechanism for any project running under any government scheme and under the aegis of the REIAs. The new norms have also laid out the procedure for registering a dispute to seek redressal.