But a legal problem has cropped up, even as the state pollution control board and the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission want the plant to be shut down.
The legal problem is regarding a West Bengal gazette notification published in 2001 which stipulates that any shutdown of a plant has to be backed by a bank guarantee. The gazette, however, does not clarify in whose favour the guarantee has to be furnished.
There has been no subsequent notifications by the government clarifying the issue and the management is still in the dark on the issue.
Sources in the state government said that management will have to provide bank guarantee against Employees Provident Fund (PF) and Employees State Insurance (ESI) dues.