CAG seeks employment status of locals in Odisha power plants

The auditor seeks employment position in different categories like unskilled and semi-skilled, skilled, supervisory managerial and senior executive levels

Amid allegations of locals neglected for jobs in industries set up in Odisha, the Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) has sought information from the state government on employment position in projects of independent power producers (IPPs).

The CAG's office has sought employment position in different categories like unskilled and semi-skilled, skilled, supervisory managerial and senior executive levels as per the terms and conditions of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the state government and the IPPs.

MoU signed units had to abide by an employment clause of the state government. As per this employment clause, industries setting up their projects in the state have to reserve 90 per cent jobs for locals in the unskilled and semi-skilled category, up to 60 per cent in skilled category and 30 per cent for the supervisory and managerial cadre while giving them the option to fill up the post of senior executives from the open market.

The state energy department had entered into MoUs with 29 IPPs, envisaging a production capacity of around 37,000 Mw. Of this, only two MoU signed players- Sterlite Energy and GMR Kamalanga had started operations. Sterlite Energy has commissioned its 2,400 Mw coal-fired power plant at Burkhamunda near Jharsuguda. GMR Energy that has proposed 1,400 Mw (4x350) coal-based plant at Kamalanga in Dhenkanal district has operationalised the first 350 Mw unit. The rest three units of equal capacity are scheduled to be commissioned by August 2013.

Sterlite Energy Ltd has generated 2103 jobs for the locals which constitutes 63.61 per cent of the total jobs created by the company.

On Wednesday, the state government decided to extend lapsed MoUs of seven IPPs - GMR Kamalanga Energy Ltd, Monnet Power Ltd, Lanco Power Ltd, Jindal India Thermal Power Ltd (JITPL), Ind-Barath Energy Utkal Ltd, Maa Durga Thermal Power Company Ltd and KVK Nilachal Power Ltd. The lapsed MoU of GMR did not need renewal since the company had achieved full-fledged production. The MoUs of these seven power producers were to be renewed within two months.