Pawar stirs Jaitapur issue

To send expert panel for effects on fisheries, mangoes.

While reiterating his earlier support for the Jaitapur nuclear project in Maharashtra’s coastal Ratnagiri district, being opposed by locals, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said he would send a three-member expert group to look into the concerns of the fishing community.

And, that another team would visit the area and recommend measures to step up mango production and also study the impact, if any, of the proposed 10,000-Mw project.

The announcement by Pawar, also chief of the Nationalist Congress Party, restive ally of the ruling Congress party, is expected to make the latter restless. Especially with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan making Jaitapur’s onward passage a prestige issue.

The CM had visited the project site on February 26 and told locals their concerns would be looked into but the project would go ahead.

Some political observers see Pawar’s announcement, made during talks with locals, as a move to divert focus from the controversy over the supercession of the NCP-dominated board of directors of Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank.

Jaitapur is the subject of a strong opposition campaign. The fishing community says the release of water by the project would damage the various species of fish and severely affect their catch. The Atomic Energy Commission and Nuclear Power Corporation have insisted this would not happen. And, that tests on the sea adjacent to existing nuclear projects show the fish population rising.

Pawar told Business Standard: “Similar concern with regard to impact on species of fish were raised during implementation of the Dabhol power project (in the same district, years before). However, there has not been any adverse effect. I told the villagers and fishing community that as the minister in charge of fishing, an experts committee would be sent to address their concerns and submit its recommendations. The experts report need to be accepted if it looks into all issues.”

Pawar's visit comes a month after a fisherman was killed in police firing during agitation against the project. Locals and the opposition Shiv Sena have called for a stop and review, especially in the wake of the Japanese nuclear disaster.

On damage to mango production, Pawar said nearly 70 per cent of this was due to climate change. “I have assured the locals to send a team of experts to study and submit measures to further increase the production in the region,” he added.