Power major Essar Power MP Limited (EPMPL) has started cleaning the slurry spilled from the ash pond, which was allegedly damaged by some miscreants and "anti-social elements" at its thermal power facility in Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh.
"We started the cleaning work immediately after settlement with protesters on some resettlement issues by the night of May 1," Essar Power spokesperson said in a release today.
He alleged that taking advantage of the recent agitation, the work on ash pond was prevented by vested interests and anti-social elements who sabotaged and damaged the ash pond leading to spill of slurry.
However, it was contained in the land acquired by the company for its project, the spokesperson said.
Those protesting on the issue, however, claimed that ash spilled in the nearby agriculture fields causing damage to environment.
On the issue of recent National Green Tribunal (NGT) order to clean the slurry, the company said that it will fully comply with the directions of the NGT.
The company had filed a police complaint last month against two individuals and other "anti-social" elements, seeking registration of FIR against them for "damaging the ash dam and preventing its operation at its thermal power plant in the district".
In the complaint, the company said it was prevented from working on the ash pond and hence has been forced to stop the plant operations.
These individuals, along with some anti-social elements, are instigating villagers to occupy Essar's land illegally and prevent work through agitations and protests, the complaint said.
