Bokaro Thermal: Power generation at the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC)-run Bokaro Thermal Power Plant has been completely halted, leading to a daily production loss of approximately ₹5.71 crore. The plant, which generated 500 MW of electricity, was shut down around 1:30 a.m. due to operational constraints.
According to Sushil Kumar Arjariya, Senior General Manager and Project Head of the plant, the shutdown became necessary as the S-Pond (ash pond) had reached its full capacity. The ash transportation work from the pond had been suspended, creating a risk of the pond breaching or collapsing. “We were left with no option but to shut down the plant to prevent a potential hazard,” he said.
The closure has caused significant losses to DVC, which now must purchase electricity from other companies to supply its consumers across Jharkhand, Delhi, Punjab, and other states, resulting in additional financial burden.
Arjariya appealed for cooperation from all stakeholders, stressing that the resumption of plant operations is essential for maintaining employment, salaries, and welfare facilities for all workers.
The crisis began after the Bermo Coalfield Hyva Association halted ash transportation work from the S-Pond on July 15, in protest over pending demands. Although the association officially ended its strike on November 1 following a meeting chaired by Bermo SDM Mukesh Kumar Machhua, the contract workers employed at the pond have continued to suspend operations, demanding payment of pending wages.
As a result, ash transportation has been at a standstill for nearly four months, forcing the DVC management to stop power generation completely.
The shutdown of Bokaro Thermal Power Plant is expected to trigger power supply disruptions across several districts of Jharkhand, as well as in Delhi, Punjab, and other states that depend on this facility for electricity supply, including major consumers such as CCL and Indian Railways.
