According to press reports the Ash Dyke of UMPP Sasan failed on the evening of Friday 10/4/2020 which resulted in the death of two persons with four persons missing. Press reports indicate that local workers had earlier protested against the precarious condition of the Ash Dyke and had a sit- in protest for 24 days outside the Sasan plant but the project authorities had assured that the Ash Dyke was okay. The district collector had issued four notices to UMPP Sasan authorities during the period October-December 2019 regarding the ash dyke. The reporting of News click is quoted as under
Bhopal: In a fly-ash dyke breach incident at Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP), the Singrauli district administration ordered a magisterial probe on Saturday. Owing to the incident, two persons have died and four are still missing.
District collector KVS Chowdhary ordered a magisterial probe on Saturday, the official press note said.
A press note issued by the administration said the power plant was warned four times between October 2019 to December 2019 about the dyke, but in vain.
“The collector’s office had issued show-cause notices to Sasan Power regarding its ash dyke on October 4, 2019, October 22, 2019, November 30, 2019 and December 17, 2019, but no action was taken by the administration of Sasan power, which led to this incident. Appropriate action will be taken against the officials responsible,” it says.---
While a local activist who fights for the rights of the labourers in the region, Ram Lallu Gupta, said, “Three months ago, we staged a sit-in for 24 days outside the Reliance plant. We flagged to the authorities that the breach could happen any time. Reliance had given in writing that it won’t happen. And even the administration had verified it.”
A statement issued by Sasan Power Ltd said, “We are deeply anguished by the incident involving the break in the ash dump yard wall at our plant. It pushed the water, leading to break in the boundary wall, affecting some thatched houses and minor land parcel. We are investigating the reasons underlying the incident. Power Plant operations continue as relief and restoration work is not affected by it. We are closely working with locals and the district administration in relief and restoration work.”
2. It is opined that there should be an inquiry into all aspects of the failure of the Ash Dyke which should be entrusted to CBI with technical assistance of Central Electricity Authority (CEA) so as to ensure a detailed investigation. A magisterial inquiry as ordered by the district collector should also be held so as to determine the damage to life and property and for ensuring that the compensation is given to the victims correctly.
3. Copy of press reports on the incident from Hindustan Times, News click , Economic Times, Reuters, Hitvada, Times of India and New Indian Express are attached for reference.
4 Suitable instructions may please be issued to Sasan project authorities as well as MP Govt for urgent relief and rehabilitation to compensate for loss of life and property.
Thanking you with regards.
Sincerely Yours
Shailendra Dubey
Chairman