The 3,000-MW (6 x500 MW) Kaniha power plant, the largest of NTPC unit in Odisha, has incurred heavy loss due to strike by villagers of Derang Majhi Sahi, who stopped all maintenance and construction works at its ash dyke in last five days. The villagers, affected by fly ash pollution, are on strike demanding total displacement.
The work has been stopped since December 12 by the agitators, demanding conduct of RPDAC meeting to decide on displacement of the entire village.
The agitators are not even allowing the watch and ward persons to perform their duties. NTPC authorities told that the situation may endanger the ash dyke directly as far as safety and stability is concerned.
With no maintenance activities being allowed, the entire ash dyke is under threat of severe environmental hazard. The situation has resulted in huge loss to NTPC by way of lower power generation. The NTPC has shut down two of its units ( 500MW×2) resulting loss of 1,000MW power.
The district administration has not been able to persuade the villagers to restore normalcy. The agitators did not attend the meeting called by Sub-Collector Talcher on December 11 for reconciliation. In view of this, the NTPC may be forced to bring down its power generation drastically which may badly affect power supply to the home State, besides other beneficiary States of eastern and southern region.