LUCKNOW, June 1 -- The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) and its employees' union are locked in a fresh face-off over the selection of Grant Thornton as a consultant for power sector reforms, with the management dismissing charges of irregularities as "baseless". While the UPPCL said no decision had yet been taken on a separate September 2024 tender aimed at improving financial accounting standards at the division level, the Vidyut Karmachari Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti alleged that the process was delayed to favour Grant Thornton. The committee alleged a "major scam" in the name of privatisation and demanded the sacking of UPPCL director (finance) SK Narang. However, Narang said the tender was aimed at improving accounting quality under Ind-AS norms. "Both tenders serve distinct purposes and no decision has been taken yet. All actions are in line with due process," he said. htc...