The Power Gets Cut

A Rs 374-crore electrical contract awarded to the Canada-based SNC Lavalin by the previous LDF government has come back to haunt the CPI(M) and state secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan, a CM-probable. CAG findings show that the contract was a huge loss to Kerala. The firm also reneged on its commitment to fund the Malabar Cancer Centre. Neither the Left nor the Congress-led ministry in power now could make Lavalin comply with the contract even as they cleared the company’s dues. Reason cited: Kerala would have lost more if it had referred the dispute for arbitration in Paris, as per the contract. But the scandal has suddenly given fresh hopes for a lame-duck UDF to take on the Left as it goes into election mode. What’s worse: Lavalin had mobilised funds in Canada in the name of the Malabar hospital.