NTPC to receive showcause notice by environment department for dyke collapse in Orissa's Kaniha power plant

Orissa’s environment department will soon serve a showcause notice on NTPC, the country’s largest power company, after getting a report from the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) on circumstances leading to the collapse of one of the dykes of the ash pond of the state-run company’s 3,000-megawatt (Mw) Kaniha power plant.

Fear stalked locals when the ash dyke caved in on Thursday afternoon, causing slurry to flow into the peripheral areas.“We had instructed the regional officer of SPCB to rush to the spot to take stock of the situation. The state environment department has asked the SPCB to submit a report on the circumstances leading to the sliding of the ash dyke. After receiving the report, we will serve a showcause notice on NTPC. We want to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future,” said Bhagirathi Behera, director (environment), Orissa government.The leakage due to sliding of the ash dyke has been limited to the NTPC area without causing damage to private land or properties as the ash pond did not contain much water.