In defiance of Power Ministry's directive, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has declined to take over the Rs 6,000-crore Naptha Kakhri hydro power project in Himachal Pradesh on grounds of manpower problems. The Power Ministry had asked NTPC to take over the 1500 MW hydro power project due to the resource constraints being faced by the Naptha Jakhri Hydro Power Corporation (NJPC) in funding the mega power project, a top official in the Power Ministry said.