The All India Power Engineers Federation has demanded that the Uttar Pradesh government shelve the plans of buying smart meters, including from the Adani group, and use the Rs 25,000 crore earmarked for the project to strengthen infrastructure.

Shailendra Dubey, chairman of the federation, told The Telegraph on Tuesday: “There are already smart meters in most houses and flats in the state. They have been installed in the past two-three years only. It is clear that the decision of the government to spend Rs 25,000 crore to purchase smart meters from three companies, including the Adani group, is meant to oblige them for reasons we all know very well.”

“Uttar Pradesh actually needs better infrastructure, which is an area ignored for many years. We need better network and high-quality insulators. We also need high-voltage equipment to provide better power facilities to the people. Using public money for these things will be a better idea than wasting a huge amount only to oblige some firms,” Dubey added.

Dubey said the federation planned to force the Adityanath government to cancel the entire bidding process for smart meters.

“The government has cancelled a Rs 5,400-crore tender of the Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited that had been given to the Adani group. The same group has bagged the bid to supply smart meters to the Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam,” Dubey said.

Of the four power distribution companies in the state, the Adanis have bagged the contracts of two while two other companies have won the bids for the Pashchimanchal and Purvanchal regions.

Dubey alleged that the three companies had formed a “cartel” to become the lowest bidders and win the contracts. “We are shocked that none of these companies manufactures meters. They will buy meters from manufacturers and supply them to the state while earning as middlemen,” he alleged.

Ashok Kumar, the superintending engineer of the Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited, notified the cancellation of his region’s tender on February 4 citing “unavoidable reasons”.