THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The pro-CPM KSEB Officers' Association alleged that there was a mystery surrounding KSEB management's action in correcting the contract to purchase solar power from Tata Power and NTPC at a rate of Rs 2.97 per unit.

Dr MG Suresh Kumar, president of the association, was responding to Kerala Kaumudi's report that the new management had intervened to thwart the move to purchase solar power at a hefty price and that the board made a profit of Rs 492 crore by signing a cheaper new contract.

While the reduction in the price from Rs 2.97 to Rs 2.44 in the new contract seems to be an achievement, it is only a reduction in the customs duty. "The tariff was added to the rate in the first contract. In the second contract, an agreement was reached to pay in addition to the rates. The association had opposed the new agreement due to this reason," he said. He said the new agreement had not received prior approval from the government or the Regulatory Commission.