Ombudsman to audit IFC's investment in Tata UMPP

Holding that claims of an adverse impact of Tata Power’s ultra mega power project (UMPP) in Gujarat’s Kutch district on the local fishing community merits further inquiry, the Ombudsman for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has decided to audit the latter’s investment in the project.

This followed a complaint by the Machimar Adhikar Sangharsh Sangathan (MASS) or the Association for the Struggle for Fishworkers’ Rights, an association of the local fishing community, on the adverse social and environmental impact on them.

Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd, a fully-owned company of Tata Power, is building the 4,000-Mw plant at an estimated $4.1 billion. IFC has invested $450 million of its capital in this project. It was also considering further investment.

The ombudsman, after a preliminary inquiry begun last year, has concluded that a number of issues raised by MASS merit further inquiry.