Jaitapur N-project : CM allays fears over plant safety

The much-awaited “ open house” organised by the government to discuss Jaitapur concerns, remained largely limited to technical discussions. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan insisted that issues relating to rehabilitation would be discussed only at a later date. Many among the 2400- odd villagers however boycotted the event. Will radiation from the project affect villagers? Will pregnant women be affected? Will the outflow from the plant have an adverse impact on the marine life? Will mangroves be affected? These and such other questions were answered and fears allayed at Tuesday’s discussion on Jaitapur.

A whole band of ministers including CM Prithviraj Chavan, deputy CM Ajit Pawar, ministers – Chagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane among others were present. Many bureaucrats were also present. Senior scientists at BARC and NPCIL including former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar handled most of the queries.

At the very outset, the Chief Minister asked, “ I have worked with this department for six years. If the project was harmful, however profitable it would turn out to be, would I have brought it to Maharashtra?” Dr Shashikant Dharane of the NPCIL allayed fears that radiation emanating from the plant would be negligible compared to the 1000 micro severts permissible as per global limits. Dr. Rajendra Badwe from the Tata Memorial hospital emphasised that no increase in cancer incidences beside a nuclear power plant was documented so far. Anil Kakodkar agreed that the reprocessing and recycling plant for the used fuel had not yet been finalized.

However, he allayed fears of any radiation- related problems. Answering queries on depleting Uranium levels worldwide, he said, “ In fact the other conventional fuels like coal etc. are depleting faster.” He added that the world had enough Uranium left to produce power for a 100 more years.

Kishore More, a journalist from Ratnagiri asked whether the 35 pre- conditions laid by the environment ministry have been met. He was answered in the positive by NPCIL’s Dr. Dharane. The main fear that the fishermen have expressed so far is whether the increase in water temperature, which some activists say would be 14 % to 15% would result in loss of livelihood.

Dr S K Jain, CMD of the NPCIL informed that only about 250 metre to 350 metre of the area around the plant would be protected. The rest of the area would be very much with the fishermen. However, the CM parried all questions on rehabilitation, saying that was not the subject of discussion today.

One of the activists asked, “ Why did the government sought to call it an open house when they just wanted to discuss technical issues?” While villagers from Madban, Jaitapur, Niveli, Mithgavane attended the open houses, villagers from Sakhari Naate, Naate and Tulsunde boycotted it.