For a change political parties in Maharashtra during the campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections have realsed that support or strong opposition to 9,900 MW nuclear power project at Jaitapure in Ratnagiri district is not going to help garner them votes. They also know that it is not Dabhol project, which the opposition Shiv Sena-BJP alliance used to mobilise support against the ruling Congress in the elections to the state assembly held in 1995. Voters supported BJP leader Gopinath Munde's announcement to dump the controversial Enron Corp promoted Dabhol project into the Arabean sea. However, Shiv Sena, which has been quite consistent in its opposition to the project, is struggling to attract voters.
Interestingly, BJP, which was at the forefront to stage anti Dabhol project agitation, is not opposed to the Jaitapur project but its support is with a rider that safety should not be compromised.
Recently, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray met the fishing community in the vicinity of the Jaitapur project and extended his party's support. He also roared that Shiv Sena will not allow the government to carry out the nuclear project which will make the lives of locals miserable.
On the other hand, Congress party, which is taking all efforts to convince villagers to come on board to acccept the compensation package, believes that opposition won't get votes on Jaitapur project. Ratnagiri district Congress president Ramesh Keer said the state government should be given a due credit for fixing higher compensation to project affected villagers.
Moreover, Nuclear Power Corporation official said that negotiation are underway for entering into final works contract with Areva for the intial supply of two evolutionary pressurized reactors with generation capacity of 1,650 MW each.
Interestingly, BJP, which was at the forefront to stage anti Dabhol project agitation, is not opposed to the Jaitapur project but its support is with a rider that safety should not be compromised.
Recently, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray met the fishing community in the vicinity of the Jaitapur project and extended his party's support. He also roared that Shiv Sena will not allow the government to carry out the nuclear project which will make the lives of locals miserable.
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Shiv Sena leader, who is currently campaigning for the party's candidate Vinayak Raut in Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency, told Business Standard ''The development of Jaitapur project is currently at a standstill as the negotiations between Nuclear Power Corporation and Areva are progressing slowly. The talks are stuck on the contentious issue of cost reduction. Therefore, voters are really not touchy about the issue.''
On the other hand, Congress party, which is taking all efforts to convince villagers to come on board to acccept the compensation package, believes that opposition won't get votes on Jaitapur project. Ratnagiri district Congress president Ramesh Keer said the state government should be given a due credit for fixing higher compensation to project affected villagers.
Moreover, Nuclear Power Corporation official said that negotiation are underway for entering into final works contract with Areva for the intial supply of two evolutionary pressurized reactors with generation capacity of 1,650 MW each.