Villagers rally to oppose nuclear plant in Ratnagiri

Nearly two months after 938 hectare was acquired for the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power plant in Ratnagiri, villagers will hold a protest rally on Wednesday, reports HT Correspondent.

Nearly two months after 938 hectare was acquired for the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power plant in Ratnagiri, villagers will hold a protest rally on Wednesday.

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To be held a day before the Assembly Session starts, the rally will include representatives from various political parties such as the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Shiv Sena and the Republican Party of India. They will walk to the Ratnagiri collectorate office to protest against the setting up of the plant.

“This is the only way the government will sit up and take notice of our opposition,” said Praveen Gavandkar, resident of Madban village where the nuclear reactors will be housed.

“Till now, all our protests and concerns have not been heard. No one has even accepted the compensation cheques. We are firm that we don’t want the plant.”

Of the total land acquired by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited that builds and owns nuclear power plants in the country, six European light water reactors imported from France-based Areva poised to generate 1,650 mega watts of electricity will be build on 700 hectare.

While the land has been acquired, there is still no date for the actual ground break.

The draft report on the environment impact assessment has yet to be submitted to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.

A date for public hearing will then be announced.