Section 144 of CrPC has been promulgated in the NTPC ash pond area of Dereng at Kaniha of Angul district by the administration on apprehension of breach of peace. The administration has also filed cases against 41 villagers involved in the work-stop agitation.
The 3000-MW NTPC Kaniha, the largest power plant of the NTPC in Odisha, has incurred heavy losses due to the strike by villagers of Derang Majhi Sahi, who stopped all maintenance and construction works at its ash dyke since last seven days. The villagers, affected by fly ash pollution, are on the strike demanding their total displacement.
The high-powered RPDAC has not yet taken up the issue as demanded by the people. All the negotiations have failed between the district administration and the agitating people.
The NTPC is raising the height of the ash pond of Stages-1and 2 of the 540 acres of the total 1,600-acre area. People oppose the raising of the height and maintenance work for ash pollution. The situation has resulted in a huge loss to the NTPC by way of lower power generation. The NTPC has shut down two of its units (500MW×2), resulting in loss of 1,000 MW of power daily.