PowerMin fears envt issues at Maha plant may derail target

Power Ministry fears that environmental and displacement issues of the local community at Jaitapur in Maharashtra over the proposed 9,360 Mw nuclear power project may hamper its capacity addition plans under the 12th Five-Year Plan period.

"Things were going fine at the Jaitapur atomic plant... now locals have problems, they may have to evacuate the place, there are also environmental hazards attached to the project," a senior Power Ministry official said.

"It will impact the power generation capacity addition in the country," he added. The ministry expects to add a power generation capacity of 1,00,000 Mw  during the 12th Plan (2012-17).

Atomic power projects in the country fall under the ambit of Department of Atomic Energy, and the Ministry of Power adds the nuclear power capacity addition to the total electricity generation in the country from all sources of energy.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) has planned to build at least six units of 1,560 Mw each power plants at the site in collaboration with French nuclear energy major Areva.

Meanwhile, an impact assessment report by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has also stated that the project will have a "huge negative impact on social and environment development" as it is sitting on a high to moderate severity earthquake zone.

It also indicated that the project - which requires about 968 hectares of landspread over five villages -will have a huge negative impact on the social as well as environmental development of not just these villages and the surrounding areas, but also on the Konkan region in general.

NPCIL is currently executing four nuke projects in the country, which are under various stages of construction -- Kundankulam (Tamil Nadu), Kaiga (Karnataka), Kakrapur (Gujarat) and Rajashthan Atomic Power Project.

The current power generation capacity of the country is over 1,58,000 Mw of which nuclear power contributes a meagre 4,120 Mw.

The ministry was hopeful of adding more capacity with the coming of atomic power plants, but is now apprehensive as these projects are embroiled in environment issues.