After seven months, protests begin again

After lying low for the last seven months, villagers opposing the proposed Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant in Ratnagiri district are set to up their stir against the 9,900 MW project.

After lying low for the last seven months, villagers opposing the proposed Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant in Ratnagiri district are set to up their stir against the 9,900 MW project.

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On Tuesday, project-affected villagers staged a peaceful protest outside the Bhagwati Temple in Madban, a few kilometers away from the project site. "Though the plant's boundary wall has been built, we will not allow the gates to be fixed," said Pravin Gavankar, Madban resident.

Locals had stopped protesting after Tabrez Sayekar was killed in police firing following violent protests in April. However, efforts have been on in the last few months to mobilise people across the state to participate in the opposition. There will be protests and a one-day fast outside the district collector's office across the state on December 3 - also the day of the Bhopal gas tragedy.

"December 3 is a day of protests against industrial disasters," said Vivek Monteiro, social activist, who is a part of the Jaitapur Anuveej Prakalp Virodhi Abhiyaan, an umbrella organisation of anti-nuclear groups organising the protests.

Various gram panchayats in Ratnagiri will also pass resolutions, which will be sent to the prime minister and CM. "The idea is to spread the propaganda against building nuclear plants. Broader support will result in the political price that the government will have to pay," said Monteiro.