Biodiversity conservation plan for Jaitapur gets panel's nod

Environment Minister has now to decide on go-ahead for the plan prepared in consultation with BNHS and state forests and wildlife dept

Biodiversity conservation plan for the Jaitapur nuclear power project in poll-bound Maharashtra has got the approval of a high-powered panel of the Environment Ministry.

The decision was taken by Expert Appraisal Committee (Nuclear), headed by A R Reddy. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has now to decide on the go ahead for the plan prepared in consultation with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and the state forests and wildlife department.

"After deliberations, the committee recommended Biodiversity Conservation Plan (BCP) for approval by the Ministry," the panel said in a note.

"The committee observed that BCP is a unique and important document identifying various issues required for the biodiversity conservation in the Jaitapur area and now action has to be taken in short-term and long-term," it said. The panel said the project proponent Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) should be responsible to implement the plan in its study area and any other scope in its program. The BCP for Jaitapur region is specifically for terrestrial, inter-tidal and mangrove areas.

It said the monitoring committee comprising of outside experts and institutions (including the BNHS, College of Fisheries, Ratnagiri and the Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli) constituted by the NPCIL should continue to monitor satisfactory implementation of BCP programme in its study area.

In October 2009, the government accorded in principle approval for the full potential of the Jaitapur site for setting up 6x1650 MW light water reactors and designated the site for setting up light water reactors in cooperation with France. In 2010, Environment Ministry had given conditional environmental clearance to Nuclear Power Park.

Shiv Sena, with which BJP has parted ways in the polls, is dead against the implementation of the project which could witness an investment of over Rs 1 lakh crore.