Greenpeace India has appealed to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to re-evaluate the 'in-principle' approval granted to the Jaitapur site in Maharasthra, or direct the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) to finish its review of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) document and make the report public.
In its recent letter to the PM, it has said there are close to 16 fault lines near the Jaitapur nuclear project site, according to a 2006 Geological Survey of India. While the project has been given an 'in-principle' site approval, and the preliminary construction has already started at the site, the report commissioned by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) in 2002 has been under review for 10 years now.
According to Greenpeace India, an NGO engaged in taking up environment issues, it was allowed to examine the report in March 2014 under the Right to Information Act, but was not allowed to make copies stating that the "Report is under review, thus copy of the same has not been provided."
"The report states there are six fault lines within the 5 km radius of the project site, if the report is still under review, then on what basis was site clearance granted?" asks Hozefa Merchant, Greenpeace campaigner. He further said it the report is still under review, then it can be inferred that it is inconclusive and if it is inconclusive, it means that more studies need to be done before a site approval is granted.
Greenpeace India's missive comes at a time when NPCIL is in the midst of pre project development and infrastructure works at the project site while its talks with AREVA to enter into final works contract and commercial agreement have yet to be concluded for the proposed 9,900 Mw nuclear power project.
