Is NTPC a public authority under the RTI Act, 2005? Can I file an RTI against it?

Yes. NTPC Limited is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) in which the Government of India holds approximately 51% equity. It is a public authority within the meaning of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005, as it is a body owned, controlled, and substantially financed by the Central Government. Every NTPC establishment — the corporate headquarters as well as each power plant — is therefore obligated to respond to RTI applications. Citizens living near NTPC plants, civil society groups, and journalists regularly use the RTI Act to obtain project clearances, land records, ash pond status, CSR details, and safety reports from NTPC.

Should I file my RTI with the plant-level CPIO or with the Corporate CPIO at New Delhi?

The rule of thumb is: file with the CPIO whose office holds the information you need. For local, plant-specific information — such as land acquisition records for a particular project, ash pond safety reports for a specific plant, CSR activities around a plant, or accident records at a plant — file with the CPIO of the relevant NTPC Regional Headquarters or plant project. Each operational NTPC plant and regional headquarters has its own designated CPIO. For company-wide policy questions, board-approved budgets, or corporate-level agreements (e.g., overall FSA terms with Coal India), file with the Corporate CPIO at NTPC Bhawan, Scope Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi. NTPC's website (ntpc.co.in) lists the CPIOs for each plant/region under the RTI section. If you are unsure, file with the Corporate CPIO — the RTI Act requires the CPIO to transfer your application to the appropriate authority within five days under Section 6(3).

NTPC's CPIO did not respond within 30 days. What are my options?

If the CPIO does not furnish information within 30 days of receipt of the application, or furnishes information that is incomplete or incorrect, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at the same NTPC establishment under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act. The First Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. If the FAA also fails to respond or the response remains unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days. NTPC is a Central Government body — all second appeals go to the CIC, not any State Information Commission. The CIC has the power under Section 20 to impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) on the CPIO for unjustified denial or delay.

Can NTPC refuse to share environmental clearance or ash pond safety data by citing national security or trade secrets?

No. Environmental clearance documents, compliance reports, and ash pond safety inspection reports submitted to statutory regulators (MoEFCC, CPCB, CEA) are regulatory records, not trade secrets. They cannot be withheld under Section 8(1)(d) (commercial confidence or trade secrets) because that exemption does not apply where disclosure is in the larger public interest, or where the information relates to a public authority's own operations. National security exemptions under Section 8(1)(a) do not apply to civil infrastructure such as thermal power plants. NTPC may legitimately withhold commercially sensitive details such as the precise price formula in a coal supply agreement, but operational facts — contracted quantity, actual receipt, shortfall — are routinely published in NTPC's Annual Report and cannot be denied under RTI.

I live in a village near an NTPC plant. Can I use RTI to find out whether land compensation was paid to all affected families and whether CSR funds actually reached the community?

Yes, and RTI is one of the most effective tools for this purpose. For land compensation, ask for the village-wise list of affected families, the compensation rate fixed by the District Collector or Land Acquisition Collector, and the total compensation disbursed. For CSR funds, ask for the list of CSR projects approved for your village/block for the relevant financial year, the implementing agency for each project, the amount sanctioned versus amount spent, and any third-party evaluation report. If NTPC's response shows that compensation was paid or CSR was spent in full, you have an official record. If the response reveals a discrepancy — for example, families listed as compensated who did not receive payment — this becomes strong evidence for escalation to the district administration, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), or a court. RTI responses can also be shared with journalists and civil society organisations to build a factual record.

Home/Guides/How to File RTI with NTPC for Power Plant Project Details — Environmental Clearance, Land Acquisition, Ash Pond and CSR Fund Information

Central Government

How to File RTI with NTPC for Power Plant Project Details — Environmental Clearance, Land Acquisition, Ash Pond and CSR Fund Information

Step-by-step guide to file an RTI with NTPC Limited (a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power) for power plant environmental clearances, land acquisition records and compensation details, fly ash and ash pond management reports, CSR fund utilisation in the project area, coal supply agreement terms, and safety incident records. Covers which CPIO to approach — plant-level or Corporate — and includes a ready-to-use sample RTI draft.

Updated 1 Jun 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryMinistry of Power

Address RTI ToCPIO, NTPC Limited, NTPC Bhawan, Scope Complex, 7 Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110003

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days from receipt (Section 7(1), RTI Act 2005). 48 hours if the matter involves life or liberty.

File Online Athttps://rtionline.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

NTPC Limited is India's largest integrated power company and a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) owned approximately 51% by the Government of India. Operating under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power, NTPC runs coal, gas, hydro, and renewable power plants across the country, with a total installed capacity exceeding 70 GW. Because NTPC is substantially financed and controlled by the Central Government, it is unambiguously a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Citizens living near NTPC power plants — as well as researchers, journalists, and civil society groups — regularly file RTI applications to obtain project environmental clearances, land acquisition records and compensation details, fly ash and ash pond management reports, CSR fund utilisation data, coal supply agreement terms, and records of safety incidents at plant sites. This guide explains what information you can seek, which CPIO to approach, how to file, and how to escalate if the response is inadequate.

Plant-Level CPIO vs. Corporate CPIO: Which One to Approach

NTPC has a two-tier CPIO structure that determines where you should file your application.

Plant-Level or Regional CPIO — Each NTPC power station and regional headquarters has its own designated CPIO. File with the plant-level CPIO when your query relates specifically to that plant or project: land acquisition and compensation for affected families near a specific plant, ash pond safety inspection reports for a particular site, CSR activities carried out in the plant's project-affected area, safety incidents at a plant, or environmental monitoring data for a specific station. NTPC's official website (ntpc.co.in) lists the CPIOs for all plants and regional offices under the RTI section.

Corporate CPIO — File with the Corporate CPIO at NTPC Bhawan, Scope Complex, 7 Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110003 when your query relates to company-wide policy, board-level decisions, or corporate agreements: NTPC's overall CSR policy and annual budget approved by the Board or CSR Committee, the corporate-level Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) framework with Coal India Limited, or NTPC's consolidated fly ash utilisation report.

If you are unsure, file with the Corporate CPIO. Under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, a CPIO who does not hold the relevant information is obligated to transfer the application to the CPIO of the concerned public authority within five days, with intimation to you. Your 30-day response clock restarts from the date the transferred application is received by the correct CPIO.

Information You Can Seek from NTPC

Environmental Clearances and Pollution Compliance

NTPC power plants require environmental clearances (ECs) from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) or the relevant State-level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) before construction and expansion. RTI is an effective mechanism to obtain these clearances and the compliance reports filed against them.

You can ask for:

Certified copies of all environmental clearances granted to a specific plant or project, including all conditions imposed
The latest compliance report submitted by NTPC to the MoEFCC or the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) in respect of the EC conditions
Any show-cause notices, directions, or orders issued by the CPCB or SPCB to the plant, and NTPC's responses to those notices
Ambient air quality and effluent monitoring reports submitted by the plant to the SPCB for a specified period

Land Acquisition Records and Compensation

NTPC projects involve large-scale land acquisition, which frequently displaces farming and other dependent communities. RTI is the primary tool through which affected families can verify the compensation fixed for their land and the status of Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) entitlements.

You can ask for:

Total area of land acquired for the project, with village-wise breakup and survey/khasra numbers
Compensation rate fixed per acre or hectare by category of land (agricultural, homestead, non-agricultural), and total compensation paid by village and by family
Number of displaced families, number who have received R&R benefits, and status of pending R&R cases
Court or tribunal orders in connection with land acquisition disputes for the project

Fly Ash and Ash Pond Management

Fly ash generated by coal-based power plants is a significant environmental hazard. Ash ponds near NTPC plants have been the subject of safety concerns in several states. RTI can be used to obtain:

Annual fly ash generation and utilisation figures (by utilisation category: cement manufacture, brick making, road construction, mine-filling, etc.) for a specified financial year
Area, capacity, and current utilisation percentage of active ash dykes at the plant
The latest ash dyke safety inspection report submitted to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) or MoEFCC, including deficiencies noted and remedial measures recommended
Records of any spillage, seepage, or breach incident at an ash pond, the date and quantum of the incident, and the remedial action taken

CSR Fund Utilisation in the Project Area

NTPC is required under the Companies Act, 2013, to spend at least 2% of its average net profit on Corporate Social Responsibility activities. A significant portion of this is directed to the communities around its plant sites. RTI allows project-affected communities to verify whether CSR funds were actually spent on the ground and whether spending matched what was budgeted.

You can ask for:

Total CSR budget allocated for the project-affected area around a specific plant for a given financial year, as approved by the Board or CSR Committee
List of CSR projects/activities in the plant's project-affected villages, with the implementing agency, amount sanctioned, amount spent, and current status for each project
Whether a third-party evaluation or social audit of CSR activities was conducted, and the findings of the evaluation

How to File Your RTI Application

File your RTI online at rtionline.gov.in. On the portal:

Register or log in with your mobile number or email address
Select Ministry: Ministry of Power
Select Public Authority: choose NTPC Limited (for the Corporate CPIO) or the specific plant/regional office if listed separately
Write your application in the text box or attach a PDF if it is lengthy
Pay the fee of ₹10 online (net banking, debit card, UPI)
Save the registration number for tracking your application

BPL cardholders are exempt from the fee — attach a copy of the BPL card with your application.

Alternative — postal or in-person filing: You may also send a written application by post to the CPIO at the address above, enclosing a demand draft or postal order of ₹10 drawn in favour of "NTPC Limited" at the relevant plant or corporate office. Keep a copy of the application and the postal receipt.

Appeals

First Appeal — Section 19(1)

If the CPIO does not respond within 30 days of receipt of your application, or if the response is incomplete, incorrect, or unsatisfactory, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at the same NTPC establishment. The First Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of the decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.

For matters involving the life or liberty of a person — for instance, if you are seeking information about a safety incident with immediate risk to residents — the CPIO is required to furnish the information within 48 hours under the proviso to Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005. Failure to do so within 48 hours in such cases is itself grounds for an immediate First Appeal.

Second Appeal — Section 19(3)

If the FAA's response is absent or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days. NTPC Limited is a Central Government body — all second appeals go to the CIC, not any State Information Commission. The CIC has authority under Section 20 to impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) on the CPIO for unjustified denial or delay in furnishing information.

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
[NTPC Plant Name — e.g., NTPC Singrauli Super Thermal Power Station / NTPC Limited, Corporate Office]
[Plant Address / NTPC Bhawan, Scope Complex, 7 Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110003]

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Environmental Clearance / Land Acquisition / Ash Pond Management / CSR Fund Utilisation / Coal Supply Agreement / Safety Incident Records

Sir/Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], residing at [Your Full Address], submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, to seek the following information pertaining to [NTPC Plant Name / Project Name]:

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OPTION A — ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE DOCUMENTS

1. Certified copies of all environmental clearance(s) granted to [NTPC Plant Name / Project Name] by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) or the State-level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, along with all conditions imposed in the clearance(s).

2. The latest compliance report submitted by NTPC to the MoEFCC or the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) against the conditions of the environmental clearance for [Plant Name / Project Name].

3. Copies of all show-cause notices, directions, or closure orders issued by the MoEFCC, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), or SPCB to [Plant Name] during the period [DD/MM/YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY], and the response filed by NTPC against each notice.

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OPTION B — LAND ACQUISITION RECORDS AND COMPENSATION

1. The total area of land acquired for [Plant Name / Project Name], specifying the village-wise breakup, the survey/khasra numbers, and the date(s) of acquisition.

2. The compensation rate (per acre/hectare) fixed by the competent authority for each category of land (agricultural, non-agricultural, homestead) and the total compensation paid to each category of affected persons.

3. The number of families displaced by [Plant Name / Project Name], the number of families to whom Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) benefits have been extended, and the current status of pending R&R cases as on [DD/MM/YYYY].

4. Copies of any court orders or tribunal orders passed in connection with land acquisition disputes for [Plant Name / Project Name] during the period [DD/MM/YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY].

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OPTION C — FLY ASH AND ASH POND MANAGEMENT

1. The total quantity of fly ash and bottom ash generated by [Plant Name] during the financial year [YYYY–YY], and the quantity utilised (broken down by utilisation category — cement, bricks, roads, land filling, etc.) during the same period.

2. The total area of active ash dykes/ash ponds currently operational at [Plant Name], their present storage capacity (in million cubic metres or metric tonnes), and the percentage of capacity utilised as on [DD/MM/YYYY].

3. The latest ash dyke safety inspection report submitted to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) or MoEFCC for [Plant Name], including any deficiencies noted and remedial actions recommended.

4. Whether any spillage, breach, or seepage incident at an ash pond of [Plant Name] has occurred during the period [DD/MM/YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY]. If yes, the date, nature, quantum, and remedial action taken.

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OPTION D — CSR FUND UTILISATION IN PROJECT AREA

1. The total CSR budget allocated for the project-affected area around [Plant Name / Project Name] for the financial year(s) [YYYY–YY and/or YYYY–YY], as approved by the NTPC Board or CSR Committee.

2. The complete list of CSR projects/activities undertaken in the project-affected villages around [Plant Name] during [YYYY–YY], specifying for each project: the name and nature of the project, the implementing agency, the amount sanctioned, the amount released/spent, and the current status.

3. Whether any third-party evaluation or social audit of CSR activities around [Plant Name] was conducted during the period [DD/MM/YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY]. If yes, the outcome/findings of the evaluation.

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OPTION E — COAL SUPPLY AGREEMENT TERMS

1. The name(s) of the colliery/collieries and the fuel supply company from which [Plant Name] procures coal under a Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA).

2. The contracted quantity (in million tonnes per annum) and the duration of the FSA currently in force for [Plant Name].

3. The actual coal receipt (in million tonnes) at [Plant Name] during the financial year [YYYY–YY] against the contracted quantity, and the shortfall (if any) reported under the Force Majeure or Critical Stock provisions.

Note: Information that is genuinely trade-sensitive and would harm competitive interests may be withheld under Section 8(1)(d), but the contracted quantity, actual receipt, and shortfall are operational facts routinely disclosed by NTPC in its Annual Report and are not exempted.

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OPTION F — SAFETY INCIDENT RECORDS

1. The number of fatal and non-fatal accidents at [Plant Name] during the financial year(s) [YYYY–YY], specifying the nature of each accident (electrical, mechanical, civil, fire, etc.) and the department/unit in which the accident occurred.

2. Whether the accident(s) were reported to the Chief Inspector of Factories or the Office of the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) as required under applicable law, and the reference number(s) of such reports.

3. The findings and recommendations of the inquiry committee constituted for any fatal accident at [Plant Name] during [DD/MM/YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY], and the action taken on those recommendations.

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I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 [via online payment; Reference No.: [Payment Ref]].

I request the above information within 30 days as required under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

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