Close on the heels of villagers resorting to agitation against the 2,000-MW Kudankulam project, their counterparts from Maharashtra will launch a three-day agitation from January 2 against the proposed 9,900-MW nuclear project at Jaitapur. The villagers would press for scrapping of the Jaitapur project, citing the safety and security reasons. The Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg district administration has stepped up security arrangements to avoid any untoward incident during proposed agitation.
Adwait Pednekar, co-convenor, Konkan Bachao Samiti told Business Standard, “Tomorrow’s jail bharo agitation is to reiterate the demand for the cancellation of Jaitapur project. The government should not pursue the proposed project at the cost of lives of people, flora and fauna. The villagers are strongly opposed to the exploitation of the Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts and Konkan region in particular and they will not allow the government to go ahead with its plans.”
Tomorrow’s agitation is being organised after the villagers comprising farmers, fishermen had launched similar stir in June last year against the project. The villagers, who had kept their political linings away, fear that the government was adamant for Jaitapur project development despite Fukushima accident took place in March 2011 and the subsequent decisions taken by several nuclear countries to go slow or put on hold capacity addition.
Pednekar said the villagers would also ask the ministers in the Congress-led government in Maharashtra not to indulge in misinformation campaign against the recommendations of the Madhav Gadgil-led committee on western ghat. “Ministers after ministers are making statements that the development of the Konkan region will come to a grinding halt if the Gadgil committee recommendations are implemented. It is not true and we will also strongly take up this issue at tomorrow’s agitation,” he noted.
The agitation is being organised when the Nuclear Power Corporation has floated tenders for the construction of health centre, security department and fire station at the project site. The timing is also crucial when the Nuclear Power Corporation and Areva are still involved in hectic negotiations to sign final works contract. Areva proposes to initially provide, two evolutionary pressurised reactors of 1,650 MW each and subsequently four more of the same capacity. When contacted Nuclear Power Corporation official preferred not to comment.
Anil Gachke, who was associated in similar protest against the now fallen Enron project in 1990s, informed that the villagers from Sakhrinate, Adieware, Dhaulwalli, Dhartale, Madban-Mithgavane and the adjoining areas would participate in Wednesday’s jail bharo march. “Villagers feel that the recent tender issued by the Nuclear Power Corporation is sufficient indication of the government’s determination to develop project neglecting their opposition. The agitation will be further stepped up,” Ghachke said.
