Flush with cash, Jaitapur villagers mull investments

Nuclear Power Corporation is to pay Rs 250 crore to 2,236 people and Rs 150 crore to develop amenities in project-affected villages

Notwithstanding the current economic crisis and the slow pace of talks for a commercial agreement between Areva and Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC), there is a flurry of activity at the 9,900-Mw Jaitapur project site and the villages affected by it in Maharashtra.

Project affected persons (PAPs) are queuing up to collect the land compensation cheque of Rs 22.5 lakh a hectare while nationalised and cooperative banks are hurrying up to open new branches and automatic teller machines (ATMs).

Already, two nationalised and one cooperative bank have started branches and ATMs, in view of the large number of queries from the villagers to open accounts.

PAPs are also seeking expert advice on investment options, including land, mutual funds, gold, fixed deposits. Some  enquiries were about starting businesses.

Ramesh Keer, president, Ratnagiri District Congress Committee, who was instrumental in taking up the PAPs’ cause with the state government, told Business Standard: “'Villagers are quite eager to collect the increased compensation. Efforts are on to provide advice to PAPs on their investment plans. Instead of spending on car or ornaments, they would be offered multiple options including purchase of land in nearby areas or investment in mutual funds. Some experts would be roped in soon, as a number of villagers are quite keen to go in for a long term investments.”

He said some PAPs expressed their desire to enter into business or set up agri-industrial units.

Nuclear Power Corporation  would shell out nearly Rs 250 crore on compensation to 2,236 PAPs on account of acquisition of 938 hectares. Furthermore, NPC would  also spend another Rs 150 crore on the development of various amenities in project-affected villages, payment of one time compensation of Rs five lakh or a job to PAPs.

An NPC official, who is associated with the project development, said, “The villagers are coming forward in large numbers to collect compensation cheques. According to the government direction, NPC would soon start an industrial training institute (ITI) to train villagers in project specific skills so that they could be considered for employment. Besides, NPC would also set up health centres.”

Keer argued that the commencement of the ITI would help acquire local youths to acquire necessary skill sets, in turn helping them to get jobs at the Jaitapur project.

“A special focus is on the opening up cooperative bodies by villagers, which could take up small contracts from the NPC. These cooperative bodies could get contracts to provide transport services, run canteens, carry out electrical and plumbing jobs.”

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and industries minister Narayan Rane, who are supervising the rehabilitation process, indicated that payment of compensation to PAPs would be complete by October 15. Further, Chavan said the government would actively consider withdrawal of offences registered in the past against those villagers who were involved in agitation against the Jaitapur project.

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena, non-governmental organisations including Konkan Bachao Samiti and the fishing community are gearing up to separately launch a fresh agitation, against the Jaitapur project.