NTPC may shut Farraka power plant on law and order ground

If the contract workers do not work as a fallout of the arrest, it will be difficult to maintain operation properly, say company officials

Power generating company NTPC has served notices to West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand governments saying it will be forced to shut Farraka thermal power plant if law and order situation is not maintained at the facility.

“We have sent notices last evening to the respective three state government to whom the Farraka power is distributed that we will be forced to shut the plant if law and order is not maintained,” NTPC sources told PTI.

With the prevailing scorching heat, any shutdown would lead to severe crisis for electricity consumers of all the three states.

NTPC Farraka generates 2,100 Mw of which 500 Mw comes to Bengal and rest is distributed among Bihar and Jharkhand.

There had been tension in the plant due to undue demands of contract workers of the plant, NTPC official said.

Based on complaints, Farraka police had arrested a few leaders of the contract workers.

NTPC officials said if the contract workers do not work as a fallout of the arrest, it will be difficult for them to maintain operation properly.

“Even coal unloading is handled by contract workers beside several other maintenance and non-core activities,” the official said.