Lok Sabha Question No. 2830 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-08
Subject: NTPC Jobs in Solapur
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2830 ANSWERED ON 08.08.2024

## NTPC JOBS IN SOLAPUR

## 2830  MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken/proposes  to  take  steps  to  ensure NTPC Solapur honors its commitment to provide permanent jobs to one person per project-affected family as per the 2014 and 2016 agreements;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for delay in fulfilling their commitments;
- (c) the manner in which the Ministry justified NTPC's practice of hiring nonproject-affected  individuals  for  permanent  positions  while  offering  monetary compensation to project-affected families instead of employment;
- (d) the measures implemented/proposed to be implemented by the Government  to  ensure  project-affected  families  receive  the  promised  job opportunities  and  also  the  manner  in  which  the  Ministry  would  address  the grievances of skilled artisans who prefer permanent employment over monetary compensation; and
- (e) the  details  of  the  current  status  of  employment  provided  to  projectaffected families in Solapur NTPC and the mechanisms adopted/used to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of employment policies for project-affected families?

## A N S W E R

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

(a) & (b) : An agreement was signed between the State Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) and NTPC  in the year 2016  for the Rehabilitation and Resettlement provisions for NTPC Solapur.  As per clause - 8 of the agreement between NTPC and SRA, 'In case there are no posts available in the project or the project affected person (PAP) himself does not opt for employment or if the PAP is found ineligible for any of the posts, then in lieu of employment, NTPC will  pay  lump  sum  one  time  compensation  of Rs.  5.00  Lakh  (Rupees  five  lakh only) to such Project Affected Family.'

..........2.

Considering the state-of-the-art technology of the plant, the possibility of direct  employment  of  workmen  in  NTPC  is  not  envisaged.  Accordingly,  NTPC Ltd.  deposited  an  amount  of  Rs.  20  Crores  to  the  State  Administration  for disbursement of the same in lieu of employment.

(c) to (e) :  NTPC Ltd., which is a 'Maharatna' Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE)  under  the  administrative  control  of  the  Ministry  of  Power,  conducts recruitment  through  an  open  and  transparent  centralized  process  and  no recruitments for direct employment with NTPC are being done at the individual plant level. However, contractual jobs as per requirement and availability, are provided to project-affected families through contract agencies at the project level.

The skilled artisans/individuals who are from project-affected families get suitable  job  opportunities  in  different  contracts  being  operated  by  different agencies.  Approximately  251  project-affected  persons  are  currently  engaged through contract agencies. In addition, NTPC provides opportunities to PAFs in activities like hiring of vehicles through PAFs, Petty contract works through PAF societies and shop allotment to PAFs in NTPC township.

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