Anti-nuclear lobby opposes deal on Jaitapur during polls

Shiv Sena has opposed to the project, saying the agreement will impact the environment

The anti-nuclear lobby in Maharashtra has appealed to Election Commission (EC) and the Maharashtra chief electoral officer (CEO) to issue direction to the Centre that the signing of a commercial agreement between the Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) and French major AREVA for the 9,900-Mw Jaitapur nuclear power project be put off till the Lok Sabha elections are completed.

The office-bearers of the Konkan Bachao Samiti (KBC), Vivek Monteiro and Adwait Pednekar said they had sought the intervention of the EC and state CEO based on recent press reports that AREVA and NPC were about to enter into a commercial agreement. Further reports have said that a draft agreement is being sent to the Prime Minister’s Office for approval.

“A commercial agreement between AREVA and NPC on Jaitapur would entail a commitment of expenditure running into more than a lakh crore of rupees. It would be inappropriate and illegal for the government of India to enter into or give approval for such an agreement during the period where the model code of conduct is applicable,” Monteiro and Pednekar said.

KBC’s move comes close on the heels of the Shiv Sena stepping up its opposition against the Jaitapur project.

Further, the local fishing community has also voiced its opposition against the project, arguing that it would adversely impact various species of fish in the area and the environment in general.

However, an AREVA official in an email reply told Business Standard: “The commercial negotiations with NPC are in progress for the first two evolutionary pressurised reactors (EPRs) at the Jaitapur site. AREVA would like to reach an agreement with NPC on all technical and commercial terms of the contract that are yet to be signed.”

Following the Indo-French Nuclear Cooperation Agreement in 2008, AREVA and NPC signed a Memorandum of Understanding in February 2009, for a partnership in nuclear power generation to build up to six EPR reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district and provide lifetime fuel supply for these units.

In December 2010, AREVA and NPCIL signed the Early Works Agreement for the construction of the first two EPRTM reactors and supply of fuel for 25 years.