The closure order for the National Thermal Power Station Corporation (NTPC) unit at Talcher Thermal has been stayed by the Orissa High Court. Chief Justice Dr S Muralidhar and Justice BP Routray on a writ petition filed by former MP and NTPC Shramik Congress president Dr Rama Chandra Khuntia and NTPC Workers INTUC Unions president Bishnu Rath has stayed the move.
The petitioners had contended that despite generation of power by the NTPC Talcher Thermal at around 90 per cent of its installed capacity and achieving several feats like the National Safety Award for less pollution in the plant, the NTPC management had decided to close the power station without thinking about its impact on locals, regular and contract workers.
They said that when the closer decision was known, local people agitated. Local leaders including MLA, MP, Central Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had backed the stir.
The CMD NTPC had held a discussion with the Chief Secretary of Odisha and had assured to start 1,320-MW new power plant immediately and resume operation of the old plant after a safety audit. The State Government had also accorded permission for the new plant. The petitioners Khuntia and Rath had said that so far no announcement had been made by the Central Government or NTPC about the new plant.
On the other hand, the NTPC had declared closer of the old plant from April 1 even without getting approval from the Central Labour Department. The approval was got only on July 13 without giving opportunity to the workers unions and the local inhabitants to represent their case. They sought a stay order from the court.
Meanwhile,Dr Khuntia, general secretary INTUC Kishore Jena, Madan Mohand Dhal, Prasant Mohapatra and Akshaya Kumar Tripathy strongly condemned the attitude of Union Government and demanded to take appropriate action immediately to start the old thermal plant and the work of new 1320-MW plant.