The NTPC North Karanpura power plant is grappling with a major ash disposal crisis as most of the contracted transporters have pulled out, leaving huge mounds of fly ash piling up in the ash ponds. Daily dispatch has fallen to a trickle despite generation of nearly 8,000 to 10,000 tonnes of ash per day, creating operational and environmental challenges for the plant.
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NTPC had engaged six contractors at a steeply discounted rate of 27% below base price for ash lifting during the current financial year. Except for one or two players, the rest have withdrawn from operations citing high costs. NTPC management has reportedly blacklisted some non-performing agencies after repeated failures to meet dispatch commitments.
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Insiders claim that the low rates, coupled with NTPC’s insistence on weighbridge verification of every truck and dumper, have made the work economically unviable. “Per trip cost touches Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 6,000 per dumper. At current contract rates, operators are running at a loss,” said a transporter familiar with the project.
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NTPC Appealed for Free Ash Lifting
With six months gone and only marginal quantities of ash evacuated, NTPC is now appealing for free ash lifting to clear the backlog. Last year, when weighbridge checks were relaxed, contractors reportedly evacuated significant quantities of ash. The company is exploring options to accelerate removal before the ash pond reaches critical capacity, which could pose compliance and safety risks.
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