Maha to go ahead with Jaitapur N-project

In the wake of Japan's nuclear plants being at risk due to the earthquake and tsunami that struck the country, Maharashtra government today said it would go ahead with the controversial Jaitapur nuclear power plant with additional safety measures if necessary.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the energy portfolio, said in the Legislative Council today that in the wake of the crisis at the tsunami-hit nuclear plant in Japan, all additional security measures would be taken.

"After Japan incident, the Prime Minister himself has assured to review all the atomic power plants across the country. Also, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission Dr S Banerjee has said that the crisis in Japan would be studied and appropriate changes would be made to new plants here," Pawar said. 

All the security measures would be implemented to ensure the safety of local people, he said. Pawar also said that Japan falls under seismic zone nine, while Jaitapur falls under zone three, which has much less risk of earthquake.

The crisis in Japan was due to tsunami and not because of earthquake, Pawar said, adding that on an average tsunami wave can be 25 to 30 feet high while the Jaitapur plant would be situated 75-feet above the sea level.

Pawar also cited the examples of nuclear plants at Kakrapara in Gujarat and Kalpakam in Tamil Nadu where no harm was caused to the local population despite an earthquake and a tsunami respectively.

"Doing politics (over the project) is not right...One should think of the state's progress in the long run. It is difficult to increase industries without being self-sufficient in power," he said.

As to the compensation for project-affected people, Pawar said the proposal for increase in compensation was awaiting the Chief Minister's approval.

"Considering that total investment in the Jaitapur project is of Rs 1 lakh crore, compensation amount has been increased from Rs 60,000 per acre to some lakh rupees ... The proposal is before the Chief Minister for approval."