Shiv Sena continues to oppose 9,900 MW Jaitapur nuclear power project

But the BJP govt at the Centre and state supports the project

Despite being in the government, Shiv Sena has not revised its belligerent stance on the Jaitapur nuclear power project, and reiterated it on Monday.

“There has been no change in the party’s stand in this regard. Shiv Sena is strongly opposed to Jaitapur nuclear power project which may be highly dangerous for the environment and human being. Shiv Sena will continue to support the locals who are opposed to the nuclear project.” Senior Shiv Sena leader and state industries minister Subhash Desai told Business Standard on the sidelines of signing a memorandum of understanding between the state-run Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation and UK-India Business Council.

The proposed 9,900 MW nuclear power plant is proposed to be developed at Madban village of Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, 290 km south of state capital Mumbai. An agreement was signed between French nuclear engineering firm Areva and Nuclear Power Corporation of India for the $9.3-billion project.

Shiv Sena has been opposed to the project since its time in the Opposition.

Desai said the Centre had not taken the views of the local population. “We hope that the Jaitapur power project may not be needed if the generation capacity is added through power projects based on other fuels.”

Shiv Sena’s stance is likely to put it at crossroads with its ally the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has supported the project in the state and also in the Centre.

Recently, the state Legislative Affairs Minister Girish Bapat and state Power Minister Chandrashekhar Bavankule claimed that Shiv Sena has not expressed its opposition in the state Cabinet to the Jaitapur project.

The minister said the state government would support the project, and Bavankule clarified that the state government had not issued any “work stop” order.

According to the understanding reached between the state government and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd, a compensation of Rs 22.50 lakh per hectare will be provided to project-affected persons (PAPs).

Of the total 2,335 PAPs, 1,721 have collected compensation money totalling Rs 185.79 crore. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd had already deposited a total of Rs 211.05 crore with the Ratnagiri district collector for the payment of compensation.

The negotiations between the French major Areva and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd are yet to be completed as the Centre is yet to bring in more clarity on the civil nuclear liability.

Areva will initially provide two evolutionary pressurised reactors of 1,650 MW each for the project. However, the French company and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd are yet to arrive at an agreement on sharing cost, which is expected to rise due to the additional application of safety measures especially after the Fukushima nuclear accident occurred in Japan in March 2011.