Two days after a group of villagers ransacked the site of the under-construction 1,980-MW Bara thermal power plant in Allahabad and damaged property,the developer JP Power Ventures has started moving out the expensive construction equipment and other machinery.
The decision,which would stall the project,has been taken to avoid damage to the Rs 900-crore machinery and equipment at the site.
On Saturday,protesters had inflicted damage worth Rs 1 crore to the company after they smashed computers,vehicles and damaged the mess and other facilities. The protesters are demanding jobs in the project and a rehabilitation allowance of Rs 62,500 which is given to labourers displaced by a project.
Sources said apprehending more trouble,the company shifted some of the equipment to Madhya Pradesh on Sunday night.
On Monday,senior company officials had a long discussion with Allahabad district administration over safety issue but they are not confident of getting it.
After the attack,our people are scared to resume work and we are also worried about the safety of our Rs 900-crore equipment. The work has been stalled for the time being, said Vimal Mohan,vice president,Administration,Bara Power Plant.
The Jaypee Group is also executing the 1,320-MW project at nearby Karchana where farmers are agitating for higher compensation.
The Bara project was awarded to JP Power Ventures limited in 2009 for development on PPP model. The project is planned to have three thermal power units of 660 MW each and the deadline for the project is 2014.
Alok Kumar,District Magistrate of Allahabad,visited Bara on Monday and held a meeting with the farmers,officials of the JP group as well as local officials. He claimed the situation was under control.