Maharashtra govt to hold fresh talks with affected people at Jaitapur

Key NGOs withdrew from anti Jaitapur agitation

The Maharashtra government and the Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) have received a much-needed respite after the main non-government organisation opposing the proposed 9,900-Mw nuclear project at Jaitapur, Janhit Seva Samiti, ended its agitation.

Both the state and the NPC have reiterated they are open to talks on various concerns about the project. Samiti founder Pravin Gavankar decided not to oppose the project, but raised 25 demands related to relief and resettlement.

Industries Minister Narayan Rane was instrumental in bringing together all organisations to discuss their grievances. He organised a meeting in a fortnight with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to consider all the demands raised by Gavankar.

Though the early-works pact was signed between NPC and Areva for the initial supply of two evolutionary pressurised reactors of 1,650 Mw each in December 2010, both are yet to close the final works and the commercial contract.

A government official told Business Standard, “A separate cell is being opened in the Ratnagiri district collector’s office for the resolution of land-related issues faced by project affected persons (PAPs). Payment of compensation for relatives of dead PAPs will start from September 2. Villagers have demanded the withdrawal of police cases against agitators, that PAPs be entitled for subscribing to the share capital of the company and be given priority in government jobs. Besides, PAPs want NPC to bear the educational expenses of their children and provide small contracts to the unemployed youth after providing them vocational training.”     

The official said these demands would be taken up for discussion during the meeting with Chavan.

Meanwhile, the NPC official said so far about 600 of the total 2,335 landholders have collected cheques towards compensation. The state government has approved a compensation of Rs 22 lakh a hectare. “This is a revised compensation, as earlier it was ranging between Rs25,000 and Rs6.5 lakh a hectare depending on the quality of land.” About 938 hectares of land was acquired for the Jaitapur project.

The NPC official added: “We are in the midst of development of  ‘technology-independent’ site infrastructure and conduct geo technical examination, which is at an advance stage. Besides, meteorological data is collected.”

However, Shiv Sena has said it will continue its anti-Jaitapur agitation. Similarly, Konkan Bachao Samiti and fishermen, too, are set to launch agitation soon.