Veterans linked to Dabhol Power Project demand settlement of 24-year-old salary and pension arrears, warn of intensified agitation if NTPC assurances fail to deliver concrete results.
New Delhi | December 27, 2025
As many as 96 ex-servicemen associated with the Dabhol Power Project, NTPC and Ratnagiri Gas and Power Private Limited held a peaceful demonstration outside NTPC Bhawan at the SCOPE Complex on Lodhi Road on Saturday, seeking immediate clearance of salary and pension dues pending for over two decades.
The protest followed a detailed press briefing at the Press Club of India a day earlier, where the veterans made public relevant documents and stated that repeated efforts through legal, constitutional and institutional channels had yielded no tangible outcome.
Interacting with the media during the protest, the ex-servicemen highlighted the severe financial hardships caused by the prolonged delay. Many of them, now senior citizens, said they are struggling to meet basic needs such as medical care, food and housing. They emphasised that the issue affects not just individuals but the dignity, security and future of 96 families, pointing to a deeper systemic failure.
During the demonstration, a delegation of the veterans met NTPC officials. Two officials, accompanied by beat officer Rajesh Chaudhary, assured the ex-servicemen that their grievances would be formally heard and requested them to return on Monday for a scheduled meeting with the concerned authorities.
Veteran representative V.S. Salunkhe said the group has exhausted every lawful remedy over the past 24 years and has been left with no option but to escalate the agitation. He added that the assurances given by NTPC would be closely monitored and that future steps would depend on concrete progress.
Suresh Pachpute appealed to the media to keep the issue in focus, warning that continued silence would reflect poorly on society’s commitment to safeguarding soldiers’ rights. Chandrakant Shinde noted that the matter has grown beyond individual complaints and now represents a collective struggle for justice and dignity.
Outlining the next phase of the movement, Vijay Nikam said the ex-servicemen would be forced to widen the agitation, including an indefinite sit-in, if the promised discussions do not result in a time-bound resolution.
The veterans reiterated that their protest remains peaceful, democratic and constitutional, but stressed that 24 years of inaction have compelled them to demand clear accountability and an immediate settlement of their long-pending dues.
