MP okays 42-acre land for Chutka nuclear project

The 1,400 MW project is being set up by Nuclear Power Corporation of India in Chutka village

Decks have been cleared for controversial Chutka nuclear power project in tribal-dominated Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh with allotment of 42 acres of land for the project. Cabinet today okayed the land allocation.

The 1,400 Mega Watt project is being set up by Nuclear Power Corporation of India in Chutka village. The project is facing protest from various activists since it is coming on one of the least polluted river Narmada, falls in highly seismic zone and near Kanha National Park, which is known for tigers worldwide.

"The state cabinet has allotted 41 acres of government land to the nuclear power station coming up at Chutka village," state spokesperson and cabinet minister Narottam Mishra said. The heavy water reactor project would come up on an area of 1,200 acres of forest, private and government land, which would claim land areas in Tatighat, Kunda, Bhaliwara and Patha. Most villagers have already been displaced due to Bargi dam on Narmada river. The project site also falls under the scheduled area.

The state government now plans to acquire private and forest land to transfer it to Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. The project has been estimated to cost Rs 17,000 crore and is expected to come up in 2021.

National Environmental Engineering Research Institute has readied environment impact assessment report on the project.