Maharashtra govt to go ahead with Jaitapur nuclear plant

The Maharashtra government Friday announced its intention to go ahead with the 9900 MW Jaitapur nuclear power project (JNPP) by incorporating additional safety and security features if required.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the energy, finance and planning portfolios, informed the state legislative council that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has ordered a review of the safety features in all nuclear power plants.Any additional safety and security features that are required would be incorporated in the Jaitapur plant in view of the earthquake, tsunami and radiation issues in Japan, he said.

Pawar pointed out that Atomic Energy Commission chairman Srikumar Banerjee has said that the Japan experience is being closely monitored and existing safety features would be strengthened in the nuclear plants in the country if needed.'All necessary safety and security measures will be implemented to ensure the safety of the local population,' Pawar assured the house, saying that while Japan falls under seismic zone IX, Jaitapur falls in seismic zone III with considerably less risk from earthquakes.

Pawar also said the crisis in Japan was caused by the tsunami and not because of the earthquake.Tsunami waves are generally between 25-30 feet high. However, the Jaitapur is located on a plateau which is around 75 feet high fromm the coastline, he pointed out.

Citing the examples of nuclear plants at Kakrapar in Gujarat and Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu, where no harm was caused to local population despite being hit by the 2001 earthquake and the 2004 tsunami respectively, Pawar urged the members that the issue should not be politicised.'Playing politics (over JNPP) is not correct. We must think of the progress of Maharashtra in the long run. Especially since it is difficult to increase industrialisation without being self-sufficient in power,' Pawar said.

Referring to the proposal for hiking compensation for the 2335 persons affected by the Jaitapur nuclear power plant, he said it was awaiting the approval of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.Following the serious damage to the quake-tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant on Japan's east coast and the radiation leak there, fears over the safety of Indian nuke plants have encouraged activists to strengthen their campaign against the Jaitapur project.