No nuclear power plant at Haripur: Govt

The West Bengal government on Wednesday said it will not allow the proposed nuclear power plant at Haripur in East Midnapore district.

Replying to questions in the Assembly, Power Minister Manish Gupta said that the state government has decided to scrap the proposal for a nuclear power plant at Haripur. Gupta alleged that the erstwhile Left Front government had "misled" the people about the project.

The present government has no plans to set up nuclear power plants in any other parts of the state, he said. Asked how the government proposed to address the growing demand for power, Gupta said the present power demand in the state was 6,500 MW.

Of this, 5,525 MW were generated in the state, while the shortfall was met by procuring power from the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. During his visit to Russia, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had signed an agreement with the Russian government for collaboration on setting up five nuclear plants in the country, including the one at Haripur.

The project was given environment clearance by the Centre and land in Haripur was allotted to Russian company Rosatom for developing a nuclear park for its 1000 MW atomic power plants.

Local farmers and fishermen, supported by a number of NGOs, launched an agitation against the project fearing eviction and loss of livelihood.