Locals halt ash pond work

TALCHER: Construction work on the new ash pond of Talcher Thermal Power Station (TTPS) has been halted for the last five days due to agitation by local villagers of Jhadiamba demanding job.

TTPS is constructing the second ash pond to meet any emergency situation over an area of 150 acres of land acquired in 2002.

Locals claimed that the power plant had 50 acres of land in the village in the early 2000s with a promise to provide jobs. However, TTPS now is willing to keep its promise, they alleged and said the agitation will continue till their demands are met.

TTPS general manger MK Singh, however, refuted the claim of  villagers and said plant authorities had never made any commitment to provide permanent jobs. Compensation has already been paid to villagers against their land, he said.