Amid rising opposition to the proposed nuclear power projects in Maharashtra, Harayana and West Bengal, Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) chairman and managing director S K Jain said the time was ripe for the political leadership, academicians, scientists, opinion makers and other stakeholders to arrive at a consensus on capacity addition.
“Hard work has been put in over the years to develop nuclear technology. This has placed India in select group of five nations. In such a time, questioning the performance by a handful of critics and opponents is quite depressing and disheartening.” He said performance of nuclear reactors in India has been praised by the world community.
Jain was speaking to Business Standard at a time when opponents were stepping up protests against proposed nuclear projects citing safety and security issues and demanding hefty compensation.
The NPC has proposed a 10,000-Mw project at Jaitapur (Maharashtra), 2,800 Mw in Gorakhpur (Harayana) and 6,000 Mw at Haripur (West Bengal). In Jaitapur, the NPC has already started soil inspection, while in Harayana and West Bengal pre-project activities including land acquisition, environment impact assessment and site evaluation studies are at various stages.
“It is quite a peculiar situation. On one hand there is aggressive and violent protests demanding quality and adequate power. On the other hand, there are equally violent protests opposing any power plant, be it nuclear, thermal or hydel. Each and every project is being opposed. It is high time that all policy makers arrive at some consensus so that these crucial projects are implemented,” he said.
Jain said to plan and commission a nuclear power project at least a decade is required. “There is no room for any short cuts. As a Government of India company, Nuclear Power Corporation has to abide by stipulated norms and regulations.”
