Agitating project-affected farmers in Jaitapur, where the construction of a 9,900-megawatt nuclear plant has been proposed, have now been offered a huge compensation of Rs. 22.5 lakh per hectare of land.

The original offer was between Rs. 1.15 lakh and Rs. 4 lakh per hectare. The plant's promoter, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), made the offer based on the recommendation made by the state revenue department.

Farmers are, however, unwilling to accept the offer and want the Centre to scrap the project as they are concerned of its repercussions on health and environment.

The state has already acquired 938 hectares from 2,331 farmers from five villages in Rajapur taluka near Jaitapur, Ratnagiri district, but most farmers have not accepted the compensation. The government resolution on the offer was issued on February 5.

The offer is strategically tim-ed as French President Francois Hollande is due to visit Mumbai, and this project is part of the India-France civilian nuclear cooperation. Revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat said: "This is the best package and they should reconsider their resistance."