Villagers disrupt power generation from Machhakund

Power generation from the 114.75 MW Machhakund Hydro Electrical Project has been disrupted for the last five days following agitation by the villagers living in close proximity of this plant located on Orissa-Andhra Pradesh border.

The people of 10 villages and two hamlets near the power project in Lamptaput block of southern Orissa’s Koraput district have been agitating under the banner of Dalita Sangh demanding peripheral development and jobs in the project. The agitators have forced the authorities to shut down power generation from the plant.

Both Orissa and Andhra Pradesh have 50 per cent share each in the installed capacity of this inter-state project. Out of Orissa’s share of 57.38 MW, the state is currently getting about 40 MW.

A senior official of the power plant said, power generation from the two units of the project has been stopped since November 26. The plant was generating about 80 MW.

Due to stoppage of power generation at Machhakund, the power supply has been hit in southern Orissa. As a result, the distribution company, Southco has imposed restrictions on power supply.  Rama Sisa, a leader of Dalita Sangh, said they would not allow the power plant to function until their demands were met.The main demands include electrifying the periphery villages and hamlets of the power plant and construction of roads and schools in the area.

The power generated from the Machhakund Hydro Electric Project is lighting many villages in both Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, but the villages surrounded the project are yet to be electrified, he said.

The agitators mostly belonged to Hanumal, Kharaput, Gundaput, Jadamba, Hantalaput, Kadambaguda, Gutalapada, Redala, Rantiguda, Bantilapalli villages.