Mumbai, April 16 :
Mumbai, April 16:
After settling for a conciliation process with the Centre, Enron-promoted Dabhol Power Company (DPC) has now taken on the Maharashtra government, by slapping a fresh arbitration notice for the state electricity board's default in payment of Rs 225.26 crore.
'We confirm that DPC has issued a notice of arbitration to the Maharashtra government for failing to honour its obligations under the guarantee,' Jimmy Mogal, spokesperson for DPC said.
The amount was inclusive of the December bill of Rs 102 crore, January bill of Rs 111 crore and interest thereon, sources said.
According to the notice, DPC's claim was currently evaluated at Rs 225.26 crore and the company had reserved the right to modify the sum.
DPC said today's action is one of a number of steps the company is taking to protect its rights and the rights of its stakeholders. Other recent actions included declaring political force majeure under the power purchase agreement (PPA) and calling upon the central government to commence the conciliation process over their failure to honour the counter-guarantee for December.
Enron India chief K. Wade Cline has urged the state government to remedy this continuing default failing which DPC would have 'no option but to take appropriate action.' DPC has sought relief through payment of Rs 225.26 crore forthwith pursuant to provisions of state guarantee without any set-off counter claim, deduction or withholding or damages, MSEB sources said.
Govt conciliator
The Centre today named former Supreme Court judge and Law Commission chairman Justice Jeevan Reddy to act as a conciliator in the dispute over unpaid bills of the Dabhol power project .
It had earlier said it would enter conciliation with Enron after DPC sent a 'political force majeure' notice to the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB), official sources said. Enron has named former Australian State Chief Justice Sir Laurence Street as its conciliator.
When contacted, Justice Reddy said he had not yet received any communication from the government in this regard.
Both the conciliators would now appoint a third person and the three-party panel would begin the conciliation process.