Bhubaneswar: Citing a surge in power consumption and the need to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply, the Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (OPTCL), a state government undertaking, has cancelled the leave of its employees with immediate effect.

In a circular issued on Saturday, OPTCL directed no employee shall leave their headquarters without prior approval from the competent authority until further orders.

The corporation said all kinds of sanctioned leave have been cancelled to ensure adequate manpower availability and effective coordination. However, maternity leave and leave granted on medical grounds have been exempted from the directive.

Employees currently on leave have been asked to report back to duty at the earliest.

In addition, all scheduled meetings, conferences, seminars, training programmes, official tours, inspections, and other engagements requiring employees to leave their headquarters have been postponed or cancelled until further notice. Separate approval will be required for any essential training or travel.

Notably, the Odisha government on Friday banned strikes in power sector establishments to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply across the state. The order, issued by the Home Department under the Odisha Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1988, will remain in force for six months.

The directive applies to establishments under GRIDCO, OPTCL, OHPC, OPGC, TPCODL, TPNODL, TPSODL, TPWODL, and other power generation organisations in Odisha.