Bhubaneswar, November 22: The OPGC Officers’ Association and the OPGC Employees’ Union have strongly opposed reappointment of AES employees in the State owned Odisha Power Generation Company (OPGC).
“Recently, the American Electric Supply (AES) has sold its 49% stake from the OPGC and the State Government purchased the stake. All the AES employees working in the OPGC and the newly-formed Odisha Coal and Power Limited (A joint venture of OPGC and OHPC) have received contractual appointment in the OPGC. We oppose it,” said association and union members.
To demonstrate their opposition, during the lunch break, the association and union members are continuously showing demonstration at the main gate of IB Thermal power plant at Banharpali in Sundargarh and also in front of Fortune Tower in Bhubaneswar where the corporate office is located.
OPGC Unit 3 & 4 were completed in the year 2019 and was inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik. Since then these units are showing major technical issues and accidents are happening regularly in the plant due to improper execution of the work. Last month a Hopper fell down from a height in which one person was killed and other 5 were critically injured.
It has been alleged that AES officials occupying the top positions in AES are indulged in massive corruption and due to their corrupt practice and lack of expertise, unit 3 and 4 are running with only 40% PLF. Govt of Odisha is losing huge revenue on daily basis because of this and AES people working in OPGC are solely responsible for this.
The association and union has univocally demanded for the removal of AES officials who are responsible for the corrupt practices and for the condition of the new units and has also demanded vigilance level enquiry against these officials for the massive corruption. A strong resentment is brewing in OPGC against these officials.
Association President Birendra Sah has demanded immediate removal of these AES employees, Vigilance enquiry against corrupt AES officials, Handover of OPGC and OCPL to NTPC for operation and maintenance work and One salary structure throughout OPGC.
