Click to play videoNew Delhi: Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh may have washed his hands off it but the controversy continues to surround the Jaitapur Nuclear Plant in Maharashtra where over 1500 people have been detained while protesting against the project.
Even as their own Congress led government at Centre has cleared the project, party members of the Congress Maharashtra Committee on Wednesday expressed their solidarity with the protestors
“It is the party’s duty to go their and listen to the problem of the residents”, said Manikrao Thakre, President, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.
The project which was cleared by the environment minister last month was inaugurated by President Sarkozy on his visit to India. But the burning question is: Why are local people up in arms against the project?
The project will lead to acquisition of over 930 hectares of land putting livelihoods of over 2000 families at risk. The plant will suck 5200 crore liters of water everyday for steam generation. This high temperature water will be returned to the sea damaging the marine ecology. Radioactive emissions may increase the risk of cancers and congenital disorders.
A recent report by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) alleges that the government subverted facts by calling the land as "barren” when in fact it is fertile agricultural land. While the environment minister states he’s done his best by putting strict conditions in place, for people on the ground, the green concerns still remain.
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