MNRE Issues Order For Complaints Regarding Public Procurement in RE Sector

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) issued an order yesterday to address the complaint order regarding the public procurement of the purchase preference concerning the renewable energy (RE) sector.

The complaint order is a previous order dated February 09, 2021, which superseded the earlier order dated September 23, 2020, on the subject.

MNRE, through this order, provides a mechanism in the form of a committee to examine grievances in consultation with stakeholders and recommend appropriate actions to the competent authority in the ministry.

In February, the order said, “The complaint fee of Rs.2 Lakh or 1% of the value of the local item being procured (subject to a maximum of Rs.5 Lakh), whichever is higher, shall be paid in the form of online transaction or Demand Draft, drawn in favor of IREDA. In case the complaint is found to be incorrect, the complaint fee shall be forfeited. In case, the complaint is upheld and found to be substantially correct, the deposited fee of the complainant would be refunded without any interest.”

Now MNRE has declared that the grievances/complaints under the subject order dated February 09, 2021, may be addressed to the secretary, along with payment of requisite complaint fee as prescribed in the said order.

MNRE’s February order was referred to the DPIIT’s (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) public procurement for encouraging ‘Make in India’ and promoting manufacture and production of goods and services in India to enhance income and employment.

In response, MNRE issued the order subjecting certain products related to the RE sector under the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order and specifying the minimum percentage of local content required for such renewable energy products.

Moreover, it has been decided now to constitute a committee for independent verification of self-declarations and auditor’s certificates on a random basis. Additionally, in the case of complaints, a committee to examine the grievances in consultation with stakeholders and recommend appropriate actions to the competent authority in MNRE would be created.