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Balco crisis deepens, three power units closed

The crisis in the Balco plant, deepened with the new management closing down three out of four power units for technical reasons even as the workers' indefinite strike against the divestment entered the fourth day on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Chattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi expressed solidarity with the striking workers saying the agitation would continue as long as the sale agreement between the centre and the Sterlite group was not cancelled. He also demanded setting up of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to enquire into the entire deal.

"The 7000-strong workforce plant is facing Rs 20 million loss each day since the strike began from Friday night and would incur an estimated total loss of about Rs 2 billion as it would take at least three to six months to normalise its functioning," general manager (personnel and administration), Shaheer Ahmed, said.

"The Balco has a power plant with 270 mw capacity but due to closure of its main plant, we had to shut down three of its power units," he said.

"Due to the indefinite strike, the aluminium plant, steam plant and the most important smelter plant were closed down resulting in surplus power," Ahmed said.

Considering the surplus power available without any use, Balco management decided to shut down three of its four power units, he added.

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