Mass dharna by the oustees in NTPC Kaniha plant

Talcher, Nov 09 (UNI) Over hundred substantially affected persons(SAP) have resorted to mass dharna in front of the main gate of NTPC-Kaniha from November 1 last demanding job.

The land oustees were peeved over the lack of proper rehabilitation packages. As per the state government norms a person losing one third of his entire landed properties would be categorised as SAPS and less than that would be treated as Limited Affected persons (LAP).

A long eighteen years passed since NTPC started its 3000MW power plant,the nation's largest power plant at Kaniha but there are still 220 SAPS left on the street to avail any kind rehabilitation packages even though they opted for job.

NTPC had so far absorbed 350 local oustees in the job as per the state government record. There were 1650 SAPs out of which 650 had opted for job.

All the unanimous advice by Rehabilitation Advisory Committee to provide job to the SAPS fell on deaf years on NTPC. The local NTPC authorities maintained that only corporate office at New Delhi could take a decision in this regard.

Running from pillar to post and finding no other option,these SAPs had begun their dharna, said Dheneswar Sahu, leading the stir.

The agitators also rejected local administration's call to call off the mass dharnaand instead warned to intensify their ongoing stirs if NTPC did not fulfill their demand.

Deputy General Manager of NTPC-Kaniha Hari Kumar told UNI that NTPC has no vacancy to absorb the left-out SAPS but an alternative rehabilitation package for them is being chalked out in consultation with NTPC corporate office.

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