Jaitapur N-plant: Villagers plan vote

Villagers protesting against the proposed Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant in Ratnagiri district, plan to hold a referendum to establish the percentage of locals willing to give their land to house the six imported European light water reactors from France.

Villagers protesting against the proposed Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant in Ratnagiri district, plan to hold a referendum to establish the percentage of locals willing to give their land to house the six imported European light water reactors from France.

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The referendum will be held in Madban village—this is where the power plant will occupy

700 hectares of land--in three weeks.

“Right now, the opposition is all verbal. The results of the referendum will go to the state government and will officially show how many villagers are for or against the plant,” said Dr Jayendra Parulekar of the Konkan Vinashkari Prakalp Samiti that is coordinating the referendum.

The referendum is the latest in a series of mobilisation efforts by locals who do not want the 10,000 megawatt plant on their fields.

Over the last month, at least three public meetings have been held to apprise villagers on the reasons for opposing the plant.