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http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=71795

Facts about Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant

Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant derived its name From Jaitapur lighthouse which is

mentioned in many international maps. Government of India has decided to promote nuclear

power at a large scale in view of rapidly rising demand for electricity, limited and depletingfossil resources, environmentally benign and safe nature of nuclear power etc. Accordingly,Government of India accorded its sanction in October 2005 to set up the Nuclear Power Plant

at Jaitapur besides three other locations.

Technical and Economic Reasons for Selection of Jaitapur Site

The Site Selection Committee recommended setting up a nuclear power plant at Jaitapur,

based on the suitability of meeting criteria like which include availability of land vs. populationdensity, available source of cooling water , seismicity, safe-grade elevation at site (flood analysis

etc), environment aspects and proper access for transportation of heavy/over-dimensional

equipment to plant site. Along with these conditions and based on some other considerations theGovernment approved Jaitapur site for the establishment of the NPP.

The site selection for is carried out by the Site Selection Committee, notified by the

Government of India which selects site for setting up a nuclear power plant, revied variousparameters as per the requirements laid down in the code of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board

and the laid-down criteria.

Earthquake-prone Site

The Jaitapur site is not considered earthquake-prone. As per seismic zoning map of

Government of India, Jaitapursite falls within zone III. The longitude and latitude of the landcovered for Jaitapur nuclear power project are given below:

Latitude of JNPP site: 16 34 38 N to 16 36 29 N Longitude of JNPP site: 73 19 02 E to 73 20 48 E

As per the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) codal requirement, there should not

be any active fault within 5 km radius from the proposed site of an NPP. Further, based on thestudies carried out by various government institutes/organisations, there is no active fault found

up to 30 km radius from JNPP site. Hence, the site is not considered earthquake-prone. This is to

further confirm that based on the available data of seismicity prevailing in the geographical

region, all the structures, buildings and equipments of JNPP would be designed to qualify theground motion acceleration

Benefits of the Project

The benefits of project are-

i) The project will augment electricity generation in the country, in a benign and environment-
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friendly way, which is the need of the hour.ii) Development of areas around project site.iii) Direct and indirect employment opportunities.

iv) Contribution of National Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) in social and

community development of surrounding areas, especially nearby villages, in the field of

education, health and infrastructure facilities.

Generation Capacity of JNPP

One unit of 1650 MWe plant operating at full capacity shall generate 36-39 million units

per day. Presently, generation capacity of six units is 1650 MWe capacity each.

Evolutionary Pressurised Reactors (EPR) from AREVA, France is under consideration of theGovernment of India.

Number of Reactor Units

There will be six reactor units of 1650 MWe each at JNPP. The distance between eachadjacent reactor unit is planned to be 250-300 meters.

Completion of Project

5 to 6 months time is required to declare commercial operation after completion of

construction. The time required for completion of each unit is approximately six years from thestart date. Approximately all the six units of 1650MWe each will be constructed in a twin-unit

mode in phased manner and implemented in a period of 15-18 years.

Life Span of Each Plant

The guaranteed life of the proposed plant is 60 years.

Type of Fuel

This plant will be PWR-type, based on enriched uranium fuel. Irrespective of the fueltype, all the safety guidelines based on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)/Atomic

Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) regulations are strictly adhered to by NPCIL to ensure that

there is no adverse effect on environment, health and life of people through air, sea and land as aresult of the operation of the NPP.The uranium will be supplied by AREVA, France, which will

be also supplying the reactor units.

Source of Fresh Water

The fresh water requirement of the plant units and the proposed residential complex of

JNPP will be met from a desalination plant facility installed by (NPCIL).

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http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cost-of-jaitapur-reactors-could-triple-to-more-than-rs-3-

lakh-crore/article4168128.ece

Cost of Jaitapur reactors could triple to more thanRs. 3 lakh crore

EDF, the French electricity giant that has built and operated the countrys 58 nuclear reactors, has

announced that the bill for the 1,650-MW, third-generation pressurised reactor known as EPR has

now gone up to AFP 8.5 billion. At its inception, the reactor, designed by Areva of France, was

expected to cost 3.3 billion.

This is bad news for India which is slated to buy six EPR reactors for a site in Jaitapur, Maharashtra.

Initially expected to cost some 20 billion, the six EPRs India intends to buy will now be in the

region of 50 billion nearly Rs. 3,55,000 crore.

Delays and cost over-runs have marked the construction of the EPR in Flamanville, Manche, France.

In the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster, the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) carried out

an audit of the countrys nuclear installations and asked for several reinforcements and design

changes. All these added to the price.

However, work on the reactor had been badly delayed and it is now expected to go on stream in 2016.

Industry insiders predict that date will not be respected and there will be further cost overruns.

The development of the boiler design, additional engineering studies, the integration of new

regulatory requirements and everything learnt from Fukushima have also been taken into account,

EDF said in a statement.

There is not a single EPR that is working today. The reactor built in Olkilouto, Finland, by Siemens

and Areva is also running four years behind schedule and has yet to begin operating. The reactor maystart operating next year.

EDF has been rapped on the knuckles several times by the nuclear watchdog ASN for cutting corners,

using shoddy materials, and employing workers who do not know their job. The Flamanville plant is

the first reactor being built in France in nearly 20 years.

http://www.npcil.nic.in/main/Misconceptions_combine_final.pdf
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Is The Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant A Boon Or A Bane?After the wide-spread scare the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has created worldwide,

the protests against the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power plant have intensified in Maharashtra.The locals along with several NGOs and opposition parties are rallying to end this issue onceand for all.

It promises to be the largest nuclear reactor in the world with a production of 9,900 MW ofelectrical power which will provide electricity to 10 million homes in India. On December 6, 2010,an agreement was signed between AREVA, a French nuclear engineering firm and the Indiangovernment for the construction of two EPR (European Pressurised Reactors) for its first stagewhich will be operational by 2018. Also, by 2050, the Indian government plans to meet a quarterofthe countries electricity requirements through nuclear power projects with 5 being built and39 under consideration.

Nuclear energyis an efficient substitute forfossil fuelswhich are fast depleting resourcesnow. It is a clean fuel, does not contribute toair pollutionexpect for the production ofradioactive waste whose disposal is a major concern. Nuclear by-products have to be stored forsufficient amount of time to contain the radiations. There is no place in the world which cansafely enclose and confine these radiations. With construction of a nuclear power plant, comesthe issue of security, safety and protection of the environment. It has long term risks too. Justtake a look at theChernobyl Disaster(1986), theThree Mile Island accident(1979) and therecentFukushima Disaster(2011).

Madban plateau is a haven for bio-diversity andto rule it out as a barren plateau is equal to blasphemy. Construction of the JPNN will destroythe flora and fauna of the plateau. If the nuclear plant becomes operational it will have tightsecurity around its perimeters and this will disrupt the lives of the fisherman. Moreover, the hot

water discharge from the plant will affect the marine life in that area. This will snatch thelivelihood of over 20,000 people. Should we overlook the interest of the common man for thesake of common man? Who will benefit from this plant if not them?

Nuclear power production is expensive due to the high cost of the fuel and the money it takes tobuild sturdy reactors. The JPNNs costs calculate up to $9.3 billion. The electrical powerproduced from the plant will also not be cheap. The area of Madban is prone to earthquakeswith over 95 of them being recorded from 1985-2010. This poses as a serious threat as the area
http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2011/03/understanding-nuclear-energy-and-its-effects-in-japan/http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2011/03/understanding-nuclear-energy-and-its-effects-in-japan/http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2011/04/solar-and-geothermal-energy-the-unconventional-way-ahead/http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2011/04/solar-and-geothermal-energy-the-unconventional-way-ahead/http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2011/04/solar-and-geothermal-energy-the-unconventional-way-ahead/http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2011/03/eco-friendly-transportation-india/http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2011/03/eco-friendly-transportation-india/http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2011/03/eco-friendly-transportation-india/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_disasterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_disasterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_disasterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Mile_Island_accidenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Mile_Island_accidenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Mile_Island_accidenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_I_nuclear_accidentshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_I_nuclear_accidentshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_I_nuclear_accidentshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_I_nuclear_accidentshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Mile_Island_accidenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_disasterhttp://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2011/03/eco-friendly-transportation-india/http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2011/04/solar-and-geothermal-energy-the-unconventional-way-ahead/http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2011/03/understanding-nuclear-energy-and-its-effects-in-japan/

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can also be hit by tsunamis. The aftermath is something we all have already witnessed. Do wewant to take the risk and go ahead with the plan without worrying about the future?

Former president of India and nuclear scientist Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam recently expressed hisconcerns over the general safety surrounding the nuclear plants following the Japanese disaster

but showed a green flag to continue with its schemes during his Diamond Jubilee Lecture at DEIDeemed University, Dayalbagh. He said and I quote Nuclear plants should and would continueto operate. Accidents did happen but there were always solutions to problems and precautionsto be taken.

Whether the Indian government carries forward the project which it is planning to with a recentannouncement or it is stopped by the opponents, it has to be noted that nuclear power has itsfair share of cons and they can outweigh the advantages. If it cannot help the people and theyare protesting against it, the government should listen to their grievances too as that is how ademocracy functions.

http://envis.maharashtra.gov.in/envis_data/?q=jaitapur_apr11_nws

Power cuts won't disrupt Jaipatur N-plant's working

19 July 2011, Hindustan Times

RAWATBHATA (RAJASTHAN): The imported reactors at the proposed 9,900 mega watt Jaitapur

Nuclear Power Plant in Ratnagiri district will be able to function smoothly despite an indefinite power

failure. To strengthen safety systems, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited has asked

French company Areva to install additional safeguards in the reactor design -measures to deal with

power failure and special diesel generators that can be air-cooled in addition to the existing passive

safety systems to counter external events such as floods, tsunami, terrorist attach or an air crash. The

company is supplying six European Pressurised Reactors for the Jaitapur plant. France is making

special arrangements for Jaitapur, said SK Jain, chairman and managing director, Nuclear Power

Corporation, on Monday.

These measures are being taken after the Fukushima nuclear accident in March. The Atomic Energy

Commission (AEC) sent a five member expert team, headed by former AEC chairman MR Srinivasan,

to France and Finland to study EPR technology, delay in constructing the plant in Finland and cost

overruns by Areva. We have put down our specifications in a document. One of the requirements is

consideration of failure of electricity coming from the grid and also diesel generator plants. We know

that our grids fail at times, said SA Bharadwaj, director, technical, Nuclear Power Corp. The French

said they would keep a back up for a two hour power failure. But we asked them to consider indefinite

failure.

The team spoke to regulators in both France and Finland, studied the design and submitted a report

to the AEC and supplied reasonable explanation, said Jain. Addressing controversies such as EPR

technology as being unproven, Jain said the EPRs in Jaitapur would not be untested by the time the

first two units start operating by 2020. By then, there will be four such reactors in operation; two in

China, one each in Finland and France, he added. Bharadwaj said that the construction of EPR has

been delayed because Finland has not constructed a reactor in the last 15 years. There was a lack of

technical know-how. They kept making mistakes and going back to fix them, said Bharadwaj. Other
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members of the panel comprised former AEC chairman Anil Kakodkar, former chairman of the Atomic

Energy Regulatory Board, SK Sharma and former chairperson of the electricity authority HL Bajaj.

Top

'Stop work on Jaitapur project'

10 June 2011, Hindustan Times

MUMBAI: Trouble is once again brewing in Jaitapur in Ratnagiri district. Local residents opposing the

proposed Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant met the district collector earlier this week demanding that the

ongoing work at the plant site in Madban be stopped. We made a representation to the collector

asking him to direct a stop-work notice on the construction of the boundary wall. Workers are also

digging a bore well, which is a violation of the conditions set during the environmental clearance for

the project, said Amjad Borkar who is spearheading the protest by the local fishing community.

Work on building the boundary wall restarted in mid-May under heavy police protection, a month after

violent protests on the plant site forced workers to flee. We have given the collector 15 days to stop

the work. If that doesn't happen, we will be forced to carry out a demonstration. We are yet to decide

our strategy, said Pravin Gavankar, Madban resident.

On April 18, 300 locals led by Shiv Sena MLA Rajan Salvi had burned machinery, electronic material

and dry grass on the plateau following which police resorted to lathicharge. Subsequently, violent

protests also broke out in the neighbouring fishing community of Sakhri Nate where Tabrez Sayekar,

30, was killed in police firing. Collector MB Gaikwad was not available for comment.

But confirming that villagers had put forth a stop-work demand, an official from the collector's office

requesting anonymity said, Since it is a central government project, we cannot issue orders to stop

work. Work will continue.

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Jaitapur farmers to get highest compensation

7 May 2011, Times of India

MUMBAI: A week after a successful meeting between prime minister Manmohan Singh and chief

minister Prithviraj Chavan in the presence of Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh over thecontroversial nuclear power project, the highest-ever compensation is on the cards for Jaitapurs

farmers.

A senior revenue official told TOI on Friday that in view of specific recommendations of the Ratnagiri

district administration, a comprehensive package was on cards for the farmers. It has been proposed

to offer ` 20-22 lakh per hectare to the farmers. We will place the proposal before the Nuclear Power

Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) for approval. Since its a prestige issue, we will ensure that the

farmers get the highest compensation, he said.
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It has been proposed to acquire 938 hectares for the 10,000 mw nuclear power project in Jaitapur.

Since the land is barren, as per provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, the farmers are eligiblefor ` 50,000 to ` 2.5 lakh per hectare. But, in view of the massive agitation launched by local farmers,

it was proposed to enhance the amount to ` 8-10 lakh. Now, it has been proposed to offer ` 20-22

lakh. In addition, NPCIL will provide each family member a job or an additional compensation of ` 5

lakh.

Top

Nuclear body reaches out to TISS on Jaitapur

17 May 2011, Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) has promised to make a

presentation on the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power plant project before the faculty and students of

the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. It has suggested that it could give a detailed presentation in Juneand take TISS students and faculty for a site visit to the Tarapur plant.

The students of the Mumbai institute had handed miniature anti-nuclear project placards to Union

environment minister Jairam Ramesh recently. NPCIL has also set up a committee under the head of

the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) to study marine ecology and bio-diversity in a 10-

kilometre radius of the proposed project site in Jaitapur. The study will not be used to alter the

decision to have the project at the site but will submit a comprehensive marine and bio-diversity

management plan in one year.

The move by NPCIL to engage with TISS comes after Ramesh wrote to the corporation asking it to

improve its public communication and talk to its next door neighboursthe premier institute. NPCIL,

which has been indirectly blamed by Ramesh for not adequately handling protests, has reacted quickly

to the ministers suggestion this time and reached out to TISS.

Top

Ecology around Jaitapur nuke plant to be studied

17 May 2011, Hindustan Times

NEW DELHI: Five months after the 9,990 MW Jaitapur nuclear power plant got environment

clearance, its impact on local marine ecology and bio-diversity will be studied. The Nuclear PowerCorporation of India Limited (NPCIL), on Monday, issued a letter of intent to five public sector

institutions for an intensive ecological study prompting critics to ask why the study was not done

before the environment clearance. The studies are being conducted as they are among 35 riders

placed when environment minister Jairam Ramesh cleared the project in November 2010.

These conditions were based on the environment impact assessment (EIA) report by the National

Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), which had failed to study the project's

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implications on local ecology. It is an admission that the (environment) ministry's environment

clearance was faulty, said Praful Bidwai, who runs the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace.

Impact on marine life can be gauged from the fact that NEERI's report raises the possibility of an up to

five degree Celsius rise in sea temperature even though the Bombay Natural History Society,

anchoring the study, said even a 0.5 degree Celsius rise can play havoc. Global scientific institutions

have found an increase in sea acidity levels because of temperature rise due to global warming. Noone knows what the impact of waste generated and radiation on the sea will be, yet the project has

got the go-ahead, Bidwai said.

The study costing ` 5.86 crore will be completed in a year and will cover a 10-km radius around the

plant.

The five institutions have also been asked to prepare composite marine and bio-diversity management

plans for the area to be studied. The NPCIL has admitted a public relations nightmare and has decided

to nominate experts in Social Science and Environment to the corporation's advisory committee.

Ramesh claimed NPCIL's communication skills were poor after he faced protest by students of Tata

Institute for Social Sciences at Mumbai last week.

Top

City to host Jaitapur tribunal

17 May 2011, Hindustan Times

MUMBAI: An independent people's tribunal will be held in the city this week to record the public's

views on the proposed Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant in Ratnagiri district. Over three days, starting May

19, former chief justices AP Shah and SD Pandit will record the views of villagers, scientists, nuclear

experts, social activists and environmentalists at St Xavier's College.

The Lokshasan Andolan, organiser of the tribunal, has sent invites to 60 project proponents such as

ministers and officials from the government, atomic energy department and the Nuclear Power

Corporation of India Ltd. The tribunal will be held almost two months after the two judges were

restrained from holding a public hearing, against the 9,900 MW project, in Mithgawane, one of the

project-affected villages.

We have been charged with not cooperating with the government on discussions about the plant. We

have not met the government because they are biased and we will not get a chance to depose, said

justice (retired) PB Sawant. Therefore, we decided on an independent commission which will accept

and record both viewpoints. But no official has responded yet. The tribunal will examine both the

viewpoints and the documents related to the issue. The report will be prepared in two months. Apart

from the radiation and safety aspects of nuclear energy, the depositions will cover issues of landacquisition, alleged repression along with safety and viability of the proposed Jaitapur plant.

In 2004, the government revoked an emergency clause and started the land acquisition process

without listening to villagers' grievances. We are now in 2011 and nothing has happened. What was

the need then for an emergency clause, said Vaishali Patil, social activist. While the tribunal will be

conducted over three days, there could be another session if more project-affected-people from other

nuclear plants or experts want to put forth their viewpoints. If the report is pro-project, we will

accept it. But we will decide our strategy on how to take the agitation forward, said justice Sawant.
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Top

CM rules out rethink on Jaitapur plant

21 April 2011, Times of India

MUMBAI: Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday ruled out any review of the controversial

Jaitapur nuclear power project. Since the state needs the power, there is no question of abandoning

the proposal. We are determined to complete the project and that too on schedule, Chavan told TOI.

However, he said the state was ready to reconsider its compensation package for affected villagers.

Meanwhile, the body of Tabrez Sayekar (30), who was killed in Mondays police firing, was buried even

as emotions ran high. However, peace returned to Ratnagiri although the Shiv Sena vowed to step up

its agitation.

Top

CM FIRM ON BUILDING JAITAPUR N-PLANTS


Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday said that there was absolutely no room for a rethink on

the multi-crore, 9,900-mw Jaitapur nuclear power project, despite indications that the Shiv Sena was

all set to intensify its agitation against the project. The CMs statement came a day after a bandhcrippled Ratnagiri district and two days after a Sakhri Nate villager was killed in police firing.

However, the CM said the state was ready to reconsider its compensation package for affected

villagers. Sources in the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) also said the firms

compensation could be reconsidered. The Centre granted environmental clearance to the six nuclear

power plants in November. We are in possession of the entire land required for the prestigious project.

Since the state needs the power, there is no question of abandoning the proposal. We are determined

to complete the project and that too on schedule, Chavan told TOI. When asked if he would discuss

the proposal with Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray, Chavan said there was no need for

that right now. A week ago he spoke to me. I explained to him why the nuclear plants were needed.

In my opinion, there is no safety threat, since the entire project would be in accordance with

international standards. All security aspects would be implemented in letter and spirit, said Chavan.

On the rehabilitation package, Chavan said he has already visited Jaitapur and interacted with the

villagers, but if it was needed he was ready for fresh discussions. Last month, I was in Jaitapur and

met the villagers. Later, I convened two separate meetings to discuss the rehabilitation package.

Apparently, they did not turn up. Unless we discuss it, we cant decide the rehabilitation package. In

my opinion, there should be no politics involved in developmental works, Chavan said. A senior state

official said the government promised a compensation of` 14.85 crore to 2,035 account holders of

whom 168 account holders have accepted compensation totaling `1.38 crore. We have acquired 938

hectares of land and are prepared to pay compensation totaling ` 14.85 crore. In addition, NPCIL has

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agreed to provide a job to one member of each family or pay `5 lakh. Apparently, the farmers

demand is for `10 lakh per hectare. We feel that the states package can be negotiated to protect the

interests of the farmers, he said. Sources said the farmers presently get around ` 3 lakh a heactrae.

NPCIL sources also said they were ready to amend their compensation package too.

The state official said political parties, particularly the Shiv Sena, stepped up their agitation after

Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh granted environmental clearance for the project onNovember 28, 2010. The Jaitapur decision was taken after considering all aspects, particularly the

possibility of an earthquake. In our opinion, the situation in Japan is different and we dont see a

repeat of Japan anywhere in India, he said. Ramesh has advised a safety audit of all proposed

projects.

A senior Congress minister said it appears that the Sena wants to settle scores with former party man

Narayan Rane. We are paying the price for a political battle between the Sena and Rane, he said.

THE PAYOUT

STATE GOVT

Land acquired | 938 hectares

Compensation | 14.85 cr for 2,035 account holdersAlready paid | 1.38 cr to 168 account holders

NPCIL

Compensation | Job for one person in each family or cash of 5 lakh

Farmers currently get around 3 lakh a hectare, but want 10 lakh

Both state and NPCIL are willing to reconsider.

Top

Press pause button on new nuclear plants, says Jairam


Ludhiana: With the earthquake-tsunami triggering a nuclear crisis in Japan, Union environment and

forests minister Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said the government should press the pause button on

setting up nuclear power plants. Stating that peoples concerns must be addressed and a transparent

nuclear power policy put in place before such plants are set up, he claimed the prime minister too

shared his view. The nuclear policy should not be cloaked in secrecy, but made after taking people

into confidence. I am not advocating fast forward or reverse mode on the policy, but only pause

button for the time being, he said.

Criticizing the police firing on antinuclear plant protesters in Jaitapur, where one person was killed, the

minister said, In a democracy, people have the right to protest. Their concerns are quite realistic, and

after the Japan tragedy, we need to address these concerns. Whatever has happened in Japan should

be taken as a wake-up call by the entire world. He, however, clarified that he did not favour

abandoning the nuclear power policy altogether. I am not advocating that India should abandon the

N-power option. But I want discussion, particularly on safety systems and how to strengthen them.

Peoples fears have to be removed.

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Cops detain over 100 N-plant protesters

Jaitapur Agitators Let Off After Warning

Simit Bhagat TNN

Thane: The Boisar police on Saturday detained 134 protesters, who had come to participate in the

three-day Tarapur to Jaitapur rally, at Kurgaon, to protest their confinement they went on a hunger

strike. Later, they were let off with a warning. The police detained the demonstrators mainly students,

activists, scientists, former judges and environmentalistsas a preventive measure under section 68

and 69 of the Bombay Police Act. Some of the prominent detainees included Justice PB Sawant,

Justice B G Kolse-Patil, H M Desarda, former member of the Maharashtra State Planning Board and

activist Vaishali Patil.

We told them not to continue with the rally till Jaitapur, said Chandrakant Pawaskar, additional

police superintendent, Thane (rural). Activists complained that their drivers were threatened by the

police. Even before the rally, we expected them to arrest us and not allow us to protest against the

nuclear plant. The police may not allow us to enter Ratnagiri district and we will face similar trouble

over the nexttwodays, saidH M Desarda. The government wants citizens to be unaware about the

hazards of nuclear energy and will ensure that such rallies do not take place, said Baneshwar Manna,another protester, who had come from West Bengal.

Dharampal Sinariya, a resident of Haryana affected by a proposed nuclear plant, added, If the

government is so sure that nuclear energy is safe, then why do we need to debate the nuclear liability

bill? However, at the rally near Tarapur, activists and former judges criticized the government for

dumping unsafe energy on the people of India. Even after the tragedy in Japan, the government

does not want to accept that nuclear energy can be disastrous, said Justice P B Sawant.

Top

CM TO MEET PM FOR CLARITY ON JAITAPUR


The Maharashtra government is literally scrambling for clarity after Union environment minister Jairam

Rameshs volte-face on the 9,900 MW nuclear plant at Jaitapur followed by power minister

Sushilkumar Shindes plea to go slow on the project. Both these statements have come as a nasty

surprise to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan who will be calling on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on

Tuesday to discuss the issue.

A senior official said: It is a central project and the state government is acting as a facilitator,

particularly for acquiring the land. At this juncture, when the state administration is geared to meetthe challenges, the statements of Ramesh and Shinde have created confusion. Now, Chavan will brief

the PM on the situation.

Chavan held a marathon meeting on Monday with deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, industries minister

Narayan Rane, home minister R R Patil, chief secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad and senior bureaucrats. The

official added: The statements made by two Union ministers have created confusion among senior

state leaders. Under such circumstances, we expect the Centre, particularly the prime minister, to

clarify his stand on the multi-crore nuclear power plant.

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At the meeting, senior leaders decided to deploy additional companies of the state reserve police

force, and set up education and information centres at Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Jaitapur, said

officials. They added that the state governments panicked reaction is understandable given that up

until a few days ago there were no doubts on the Jaitapur nuclear plant. Barely a fortnight ago,

Ramesh had stated that there was no rethinking on the plant, and the Centre would commission the

project on schedule. But on April 23, while addressing journalists at Ludhiana, Ramesh had said it

would be better of if the Jaitapur project was stayed until the Centre came out with a transparentnuclear power policy. In view of the atmosphere of insecurity, it will be better if we stay the project

for some time. We are not withdrawing from the project, but we are not in a hurry to commission it,

Ramesh had said.

A Congress minister said: We are surprised by Rameshs statements. In November, he granted

environmental clearance. But unexpectedly on April 23, he declared the project should be stayed. The

minister added that the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited has agreed to review the

compensation packages for affected people.

Shifting plant is not a viable option

Pune: Atomic Energy Commission chairman Srikumar Banerjee on Monday said Jaitapur was the

appropriate site for the proposed nuclear project and that shifting it to some other place would not bea viable option. He said, A lot of research was done before finalizing the site. Years have gone in

studying different sites. According to Banerjee, the damage caused to the Fukushima nuclear power

plant in Japan was being exaggerated. When asked about the nuclear waste likely to be generated at

Jaitapur, he said that though waste disposal was an issue, the quantity of nuclear waste would be

very small.

Top

Hole in Jaitapur backyard to predict quakes


NEW Delhi: About 300 km from the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power plant, Indian scientists are all

set to drill an 8-km hole in the earths crust for prediction of earthquakes. Announcing this, minister of

state for earth sciences Ashwani Kumar on Tuesday, however, denied that the choice of location had

anything to do either with the proposed plant or the Fukushima nuclear disaster. The studycosting ` 300 crore will be carried out in the quake-prone Koyna region in association with the

International Continental Drilling Programme.

One of the reasons that make prediction of earthquakes difficult is that both the origin and the timing

have to be calculated to perfection. By drilling the hole, scientists will be able to monitor disturbances

in the subsoil and thus predict both, a senior official of the ministry said. The entire project will taketwo-five years but the first findings will start to come in within eight months of commencement of

work. The Koyna region, home to a large hydel project, is a highly active seismic zone and would

provide scientists an opportunity to study earthquakes real time and also help in identifying its early

signs. Provisions for the project will be made in the 12 thfive year plan. Explaining the reasons for the

choice of Koyna, scientists described the region as unique as very severe earthquakes continue to

occur there four decades after the initial spurt in activity.

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Top

Its official: Jaitapur nuke project is on


MUMBAI: The Jaitapur nuclear plant will come up, and at the proposed location. This was revealed by

CM Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday after his meeting with the PM and environment and forests minister

Jairam Ramesh. Chavan said, The Centre is determined to implement the project in a time-bound

manner. But with the Japan crisis leading to fears, each Jaitapur reactor will have its own safety and

operation system. Meanwhile, the Centre has decided to introduce a bill in the next session of

Parliament to create an independent and autonomous nuclear regulatory body.

Top

Nothing can stop Jaitapur plant: CM


MUMBAI: Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday put to rest all the speculation about the fate of

the Jaitapur nuclear power plant, saying that the Centre is determined to implement the project in a

time-bound manner. Activists and villagers from Jaitapur as well as surrounding areas are opposed to

the plant. Following the Fukushima incident in Japan, it has now been proposed that more safety

measures will be put in place for the plant, said Chavan.

The CM had a marathon meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union environment and forests

minister Jairam Ramesh and minister of state in PMO V Narayanswamy on Tuesday. Chavan had called

on the PM after Rameshs flip-flop on the plant, which came close on the heels of Union power minister

Sushilkumar Shindes remark that the project should be put on hold. Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar,

industries minister Narayan Rane and home minister R R Patil had expressed their displeasure over

the statements made by Ramesh and Shinde.

The state government recently organized a special presentation for all the elected representatives in

which noted atomic energy expert Anil Kakodkar had a prolonged interaction with the legislators on

the issue. Initially, Uddhav Thackeray was in favour of the project provided the farmers were given

adequate compensation. We are surprised by the Shiv Senas volte-face. We are prepared for a

dialogue with the farmers on compensation and will ensure that they get the best deal, Chavan said.

During Tuesdays meeting, said Narayanswamy, the status of the Jaitapur project as well as safety

concerns arising out of the nuclear accident at Fukushima were reviewed. Several aspects of Indiasnuclear energy programme were discussed. The PM underscored that the safety of nuclear plants is a

matter of highest priority and the department of atomic energy as well as the Nuclear Power

Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) must improve their communication with the public, he said.

On the decisions taken after the meeting, Narayanswamy said, each reactor in Jaitapur will have its

own safety system. The Centre will introduce a bill in the next session to create an independent and

autonomous nuclear regulatory authority. Preliminary reports of the six committees set up by the

Centre after the Fukushima accident to review the safety of Indias nuclear plants will be made public.

Experts will be consulted to ensure the highest levels of safety for the nuclear plants and there will be

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complete transparency in the implementation of the nuclear power programme. Chavan assured the

PM that all efforts will be made to engage local communities and address their concerns in a credible

manner. It was agreed that livelihood of local fishermen will continue to get the highest priority, said

the chief minister.

Top

Jaitapur plant a bad bargain, says report

4 March 2011, Hindustan Times

NEW DELHI: The world's biggest nuclear power generation unit at Jaitapur is a `bad-bargain' for

ecology and human safety, claims a report prepared by an anti-nuclear group on Wednesday. The

report said British and US regulators have identified 3,000 safety issues with the European Pressurised

Reactors (EPR) to be installed at Jaitapur by French company Areva. The non-government

organisation, Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace, issued the report justifying its oppositionto the 6,000 MW nuclear plant, which got an environment clearance in November 2010.

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had alleged last week that international groups opposed to the

nuclear power plant had misguided locals. He termed their concerns as totally misconceived.

Democratic opposition is being crushed using force at Jaitapur, said activist Vaishali Patil, who has

been spearheading the campaign against the project and was denied entry into the region. The

coalition claimed the government was determined to proceed with the costly project, without exploring

the possibility of renewable energy, which can generate 4,300 MW of power in the Western Ghat

region, considered to be among the world's 10 hottest biodiversity hotspots. The six reactors will cost

the government Rs2 lakh crore as compared to Rs5 crore for a coal-fired thermal power plant.

An EPR reactor being installed in Finland has been delayed by more than 42 months and the cost has

increased by 90% of the original $3 three billion. In addition, the Department of Atomic Energy cannotcertify that the plant will be safe, said Praful Bidwai, scientist and founder of the coalit ion, while

releasing the report. The report also pointed out how the project will destroy the unique bio-diversity

of the Western Ghats and termed environment minister Jairam Ramesh's conditions to protect the

environment as vague. Most of the conditions imposed (by Ramesh) should have been done by now,

said Anil Chaudhury of the coalition.

Asking the government to immediately withdraw the project, the coalition said the four villages, whose

livelihood will be destroyed because of the project, had not given consent and have refused to take

enhanced compensation from the government. WHAT THE REPORT SAYS BRITISH AND US

REGULATORS have identified 3,000 safety issues with the European (EPR) to be installed at Jaitapur

by French company Areva Pressurised Reactors.

THE REPORT CLAIMED the government was determined to proceed with the costly project, withoutexploring the possibility of renewable energy, which can generate 4,300 MW of power in Western Ghat

region THE REPORT POINTED OUT how the project will destroy the unique bio-diversity of the Western

Ghats and termed environment minister Jairam Ramesh's conditions to protect the environment as

vague TO CHIEF MINISTER had alleged last week that international groups opposed to the nuclear

power had misguided locals. He termed their concerns as totally misconceived.

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Top

HC refuses relief for Jaitapur meet

5 March 2011, Times of India

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court refused to grant interim relief to the Indian Peoples Tribunal on

Environment and Human Rights, which is to hold a public hearing in Jaitapur on the proposed nuclear

power plant on Friday.

A division bench of Justices B H Marlapalle and U D Salvi declined to pass a formal order for the

tribunals unrestricted visit to the village. The court was hearing a petition filed by the tribunal, which

includes retired high court judges, former chief justice of the Delhi high court, Justice A P Shah, and

former Supreme Court judge Justice P B Sawant. The tribunal is slated to hold a public hearing. The

petitioners advocate, Gayatri Singh, said people who were trying to enter the village were being

arrested.

The police keep checking cars entering and leaving. Just because our views are contrary, we shouldnot be put behind bars, Singh said. If that is so, in such an atmosphere, why do you want to hold a

hearing? the court asked. The judges said that one person was killed recently during protests. If the

state wants to be cautious, we cannot fault it, the court remarked. The court also observed: What is

this tribunal going to do? Retired judges are not experts on nuclear matters. The judges suggested

that the tribunal instead request the government to set up a fact-finding committee comprising

scientists who are not on the Maharashtra governments rolls. The court also remarked that the

tribunals visit was a project-centric exercise and said it must look into issues such as why Naxalism

was growing in the state or even malnutrition.

Adjourning the matter for two weeks, the court observed that a committee of scientists was better to

make the people understand the issue. While it is a prestigious project for any state, we dont want

to say it has to be hoisted at the cost ofhuman life or marine life and even ecology, the court

observed.

Notices to 2 activists, former judge Kolse Patil

Mumbai: The Rajapur executive magistrate served chapter notices to two activists and former judge

B G Kolse Patil under Section 113 of the Indian Penal Code for unlawful agitation in Jaitapur. Vaishali

Patil convener, Konkan Bachao Samiti, said the notice was issued so she could not participate in

agitations.

Two former HC judges will record grievances of those whose family members were arrested over the

last three months, at the public hearing. The office of the district magistrate of Ratnagiri said the state

had not issued directions on the tribunals visit, so the question of government officials attending it did

not arise. It said the meeting could not be permitted in Mithgavane.

Lanco gets eco nod for Wardha power project

Union ministry of environment and forests has cleared the 1,320MW project of Lanco Power proposed

at Mandwa village near Wardha ignoring strong opposition from the project affected persons (PAPs).

Most villagers had strongly opposed the project during the public hearing for environment clearance

held on September 17, 2010. However, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board did not mention this. Four

farmers challenged the validity of this hearing in Nagpur high court about three months ago. MoEF has

cleared the project even as the matter is pending before HC. Tushar Mandlekar, counsel for the

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petitioners, condemned the decision. This clearance is illegal. The MoEFs decision to clear the project

without answering the allegations raised in the petition is lamentable, he said.

Top

Safety Fears Cloud Nuclear Sunrise


Anew nervousness about nuclear energy has gripped the globe even as Fukushima nuclear power

plants reactor No 3 had an explosion on Monday and reactor No 2 was going into a meltdown of the

dangerous uranium-plutonium fuel. Governments of nuclear powers across the world went into

damage control mode as thousands took to streets in Europe in protest against nuclear power plants.

Following its civilian nuclear deal with the US, India plans to set up 22 new reactors. Currently, there

are 20 operational reactors with another 6 under construction. Government has indicated that in the

coming decades up to 18 more reactors could be built. In Jaitapur in Maharashtra the local people areopposing a plant on safety and displacement fears.

Worldwide, there are 443 nuclear reactors supplying electricity to 30 countries. In recent years, there

has been a nuclear renaissance of sorts with an additional 17 countries wanting to join the nuclear

energy bandwagon. In all, 62 new reactors are under construction, 158 have been ordered and as

many as 342 more are proposed.

This would push up nuclear energy production by an additional 545 gigawatts in the coming decades.

But the grim story from Japan has put paid to these breathless calculations. Japan has 55 nuclear

reactors supplying almost 30% of the island nations energy needs. Most were built in the 70s. All of

them are on the coast, and had been built to very stringent quake proof standards as Japan is one of

the most earthquake-prone places on the earth. Yet two reactors have failed and several others are

spluttering. Details coming out now show that Fukushima was built to withstand 7.9 magnitudeearthquakes and 6.5 meter high tidal waves. The monster quake on March 11 has now been officially

upgraded to 9 magnitude and the tidal wave was over 7 meters by the time it reached Fukushimas

reactors.

Even more worrying are reports that Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) that runs this facility was

caught forging repair and maintenance reports on 29 counts in 2002, and again in 2006, it was found

to be using falsified reports from 1985 in inspections till 2005.

The Japanese government too is under pressure because Ishibashi Katsuhiko, a well known

seismologist, had said in 2007 that Fukushima was highly vulnerable. Nuclear power had gained

traction because of another fear haunting humanity global warming. It was suggested that nuclear

power could replace massive carbonemitting thermal plants. But as huge demonstrations in Germany

and France show, people are equally worried about the nuclear option.

US Senator Joe Lieberman, chairman of the homeland security and government affairs committee, has

called for putting the brakes on building new nuclear plants in the US for the present. The US has 104

reactors, the most in any country, but it has only recently started thinking about new reactors after a

30-year gap. President Obama has pitched for nuclear energy as a clean option.

The biggest expansion plans are Chinas with 27 new reactors already under construction and 50 more

on the anvil. Chinas vice minister for environment Zhang Lijuin said after the Japanese temblor that it

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would not affect Chinas plans. Xu Mi, a fast reactor expert at China National Nuclear Corporation and

China Institute of Atomic Energy, told Xinhua that China would go ahead after drawing proper lessons

and improving emergency safety plans.

Joseph Cirincione, nuclear material expert and peace exponent told media that Fukushima is already

in the worst three nuclear accidents category after Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. But with the

meltdown yet to be controlled, fear is stalking the world, especially those committed to a nuclearsunrise.

NUCLEAR ENERGY: BOON OR BANE?

No of countries producing nuclear energy : 30

No. of reactors : 443

Share of nuclear power in global electricity production : 14%

No. of countries planning to use nuclear energy : 17

Reactors under construction : 62

Reactors planned & proposed : 482

Countries planning to join nuclear energy club : 17

More Ahead

Sr.

No.Country

Reactor

Construction in

Progress

Reactor

Construction plans

in pipeline

1 Russia 10 14

2 India 5 18

3 China 27 50

4 S. Korea 5 Nil

5 Japan Nil 12

Top Five Nuclear Energy Producer

Sr.

No.Country

(% of total nuclear

energy produced)

1 U.S.A. 27 %

2 France 17 %

3 Japan 13 %

4 Russia 6 %

5 Germany 5%

Top

WW II radiation maimed 3 generations

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The spectre of lethal radioactive fallout from the damaged nuclear reactors at Fukushima in Japan

continued to haunt the country as ripples of panic spread to distant shores. Fifty workers and

technicians quarantined inside the power station complex were fighting a deadly battle to cool the

three functional reactors even as cooling pools, where used fuel is stored, started heating up in the

other three reactors. An explosion in reactor No. 2 and a fire in No.4 on Tuesday morning led to 822millirem levels of radiation being detected at the gates of the complex. This is nearly equal to the

permissible dose for one year. There was panic in Tokyo, 240 kms away, as radiation levels rose and

then fell again.

According to experts, if the cooling pools overheat, the water will evaporate and there could be a very

high risk of radioactive radiation leaking as the roofs have already blown away. The reactors are on

the brink of meltdown, which may cause a radioactive explosion with disastrous consequences.

The only other time humanity has experienced full blown radiation effects was in the bombing of

Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Over 200,000 people died, mainly by the thermal blast, but

thousands continue to suffer and die from the radioactive fallout with deformities, cancers, burns,

organ failures and susceptibility to infections. Even more horrifying has been the effect on children

born to survivors. The mutilated genes were passed on to them, causing high incidence of cancer anddeformities. Third generation children, too, have suffered such effects.

The Chernobyl disaster of 1986 was a parallel to the present crisis, though on a much larger scale.

Reactors in this plant in Ukraine suffered almost complete meltdowns leading to two massive

explosions of radioactive gases. Such was the force that the 2,000-tonne roof of the enclosure was

blown away.

This cloud of death drifted thousands of kilometres across the western Soviet Union up to what is now

Belarus. Sweden and Finland detected high radiation levels in the north, while Bavaria, a province in

Germany, also detected high radiation. Only the Iberian peninsula in Europe escaped completely. Wind

factors largely determined which region felt how much of a radiation effect. The effect lessens with

distance. The gas tragedy at Bhopal, too, had seen a toxic cloud of gases explode out of the Carbide

chemical factory in 1984 and drift across the sleeping city, killing 5,000 people and injuring 5 lakhothers.

Twenty eight people, mostly firefighters, died of acute radiation syndrome in the Chernobyl incident,

while another 221 succumbed in subsequent years due to radiation exposure. Nearly 3.7 lakh people

were resettled and the neighbouring town of Pripyat still remains uninhabited. Four square kilometers

of pine forest around the plant turned red and died. The Pripyat river, which feeds into the Dnieper

system, was heavily contaminated, leading to widespread water poisoning. Till today, the Chernobyl

complex remains sealed off after a cement layer was poured over the blown reactors.

However,the lessons learnt from Chernobyl, in terms of design engineering of the containment

structures and processes, have changed the way nuclear reactors are built since then. Fukushima, too,

will have a similar effect. But that is for the future. For the present, the battle to control the

Frankenstein of nuclear power continues in a tiny coastal town of northern Japan. And millions ofJapanese hope that the breeze remains oceanwards rather than turning south or east.

Jaitapur redux along Andhras Srikakulam coast

Kovvada: Japans nuclear crisis has triggered widespread fears among people living along the

Srikakulam coast, site for the proposed 10,000 MW nuclear plant. The Centre on Tuesday assured that

the proposed nuclear reactors will have additional environmental safeguards to ensure safety. But

people are not convinced. At a meeting, fishermen and farmers passed a unanimous resolution

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opposing the `60,000 crore nuclear plant. Members of local government bodies and village heads in

and around the proposed plant site at Kovvada Matsyalesam opposed the plant. Congress leaders in

Ranasthalam mandal have also decided to join the fight against the nuclear plant. Villagers will hold a

rally in Ranasthalam on March 18. After Japans tragedy, we realized that no village within 30-40 km

radius of any nuclear plant will survive an accident or leakage, said Mylapalli Police, a fishermen

sangham leader.

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Jaitapur clearance may be reviewed, says govt

16 March 2011, Hindustan Times

NEW DELHI: On the day environment minister Jairam Ramesh agreed to review the environment

clearance to the nuclear plant at Jaitapur in Maharashtra, a German bank withdrew from the project

on sustainable management grounds. Since business related to nuclear power by process-definitionhas to be routed through our Reputational & Sustainability Management (RSM), we were sure that

Commerzbank will not invest in this project, said an email from the bank to international NGO

Greenpeace, which has been protesting against the project.

The NGO, however, refused to reveal who has written the email in response to a query whether the

bank has withdrawn from the project. A consortium of 15 banks mainly from France and HSBC of UK

had pledged to bear about 70% of the cost of the world's biggest nuclear power plant commissioned

by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) in collaboration with French company Areva.

Commerzbank is the first bank to withdraw its commitment. Environment clearance to the 6,000-MW

Jaitapur N-plant in November had evoked protest. The environment impact assessment by a Nagpur-

based government organisation did not cover the radiology impacts in its study.

The Atomic Energy Board, regulator for nuclear energy in India, is looking at the radiation impact. OnTuesday, Ramesh acknowledged radiation impact has not been studied and said his ministry was

looking at adding more environmental safeguards but refused to revoke the clearance. Reacting to

Ramesh's statement, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray said that it's just an eye wash.

The Sena has been vehemently opposing the nuclear power project coming up in Konkan. He said the

same things in case of Navi Mumbai airport and Lavasa but then gave clean chit to both projects,

Thackeray said.

Referring to reports about chief minister Prithviraj Chavan taking a nap during a seminar on Jaitapur

on Monday, Thackeray said: What will you expect from these kind of rulers?

Top

Jairam firm that cleared N-plants will come up


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NEW DELHI: The tsunami and reactor explosions in Japan may have led the government to order a

review of the safety of nuclear power sites in India but this will not include the proposed new projects.

Sources said the review might lead to new and additional safeguard measures as well as containment

measures but there would be no rethinkon the nuclear energy programme. The government will

continue to move on course, after applying lessons learnt from Japan and taking precautions, to set

up six plants in Gujarat, Andhra, West Bengal, Maharashtra and TN. Sources said the locations of new

reactors were safe. Speaking on Tuesday, environment minister Jairam Ramesh said the governmentwas open to putting in place additional environmental safeguards to ensure safety of the proposed

nuclear reactors in Jaitapur in Maharashtra and other proposed sites.

Based on technical reviews Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, we will certainly be in touch

with them and if additional safeguards have to be built in as part of the environmental clearance, we

will certainly look at it, Ramesh said on the sidelines of a function in Delhi. The Jaitapur site has been

witnessing protests at local levels though the Maharashtra chief minister has been as clear as the

Centre that the project will come up. The environment ministry had come under flak from

environmentalists and anti-nuclear lobbies for clearing the project in haste. Ramesh, though, has not

budged from his position. His position is also bolstered by the fact that the laws were made to keep all

nuclear issues out of the domain of environmental legislations. The Environment Protection Act and

the environment ministry do not govern the nuclear safety aspects of power plants. Ramesh

suggested as much on Tuesday, saying, This is appropriately a subject that has to be dealt with theAtomic Energy Regulatory Board.

Top

20 years, 92 quakes: Ground trembles beneath Jaitapurs feet


MUMBAI: Fukushima has become part of the local lexicon at Jaitapur. As news of the apocalypse-likesituation in Japan reaches the far corners of villages in and around the area, residents have increased

their agitation against the proposed 9,900 mw nuclear power plant. Jaitapur area falls in the seismic

zone 3 category, and data from the Geological Survey of India shows that between 1985 and 2005,

there were 92 earthquakes.

The biggest earthquake in Jaitapur, recorded in 1993, measured 6.2 on the Richter scale. The ground

is unstable, say activists and geologists, and there is no guarantee that the governments safeguards

will protect the people and ecologically sensitive Konkan coast from a nuclear disaster should there be

another earthquake.

Environmental activist Pradeep Indulkar said: The third explosion at the Fukushima plant in Japan on

Tuesday confirms that in the event of an earthquake, precautionary measures and safeguards will not

avert a disaster. It is better not to have a nuclear power plant in this seismic zone region.

At Shivane village, 20 km from Jaitapur, Chandrakant Padkar remembers the day the earth shook and

the road outside his house vanished. The unreported earthquake took place two years ago, and the

village still bears the scars. Now, with the governments plans to set up the nuclear plant here, the

gorge has taken on a more ominous avatar.

No rethink on cleared N-plants, says Jairam

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Tprompted he crisis in a Japan government may have review of nuclear power sites in India, but

environment minister Jairam Ramesh indicated that there would be no rethink on the countrys

nuclear energy programme.

Jaitapur is not prone to large earthquakes

Mumbai: Jaitapur, the site of a proposed 9,900 mw nuclear power plant on the Konkan coast, haswitnessed 92 earthquakes between 1985 and 2005 according to the Geological Survey of India. The

area falls in the seismic zone 3 category, which means there is more than a moderate risk of

earthquakes. Geologist Dr M K Prabhu, who has studied seismic activity in the area for two years, says

there are three huge gorges in the area. Shivane had to bear the brunt of micro-seismic activity, due

to which cracks have appeared, he said. The plate extends up to Jaitapur, and there is a definite

possibility of micro-seismic activity in and around the proposed nuclear plant. The state should think

of setting up smaller-sized reactors, said Prabhu, adding that while he is not against nuclear energy,

safety concerns cannot be ignored.

Madhav Gadgil, chairman of the Western Ghats ecological council, had made a similar suggestion in

his report last year. What we need is less ecologically damaging power plants, and tap mini and micro

hydro-electricity potential in this area, said the report. Leading nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar had

said that the reactor would be built 25 m above sea level. But environmental activist Indulkar said:According to the environment impact assessment report, there are plans to bring down the height to

around 7 m to conserve energy needed for pumping 5,200 crore lit res of cooling water every day. Dr

V Subramanyam, former professor of Geology at IIT-Bombay, said that Jaitapur is not prone to large

earthquakes like the one that hit Japan. But there is seismic activity, which must indeed be taken

seriously, he said.

German bank pulls out

The international NGO Greenpeace announced on Tuesday that Commerzbank, the second largest

bank in Germany, has pulled out of the proposed Jaitapur nuclear project, citing sustainability and

reputational risk. The decision was made before Japan was hit by the earthquake

SEISMIC ACTIVITY

Jaitapur falls in seismic zone 3. A seismic zone map is based on a statistical compilation of the number

and the magnitude of past earthquakes. This zone is classified as Moderate Damage Risk Zone.

Experts say that the power plant will be able to withstand earthquakes of magnitudes up to 7 on the

Richter Scale.

Top

Jaitapur wont relent

26 February 2011, Times of India

MUMBAI: Opposition from local villagers to the Jaitapur nuclear power plant is unlikely to recede even

as chief minister Prithviraj Chavan visits the site on Saturday. Despite efforts by the government to

win support of the locals for the project, most villagers are united in their demand for its cancellation.

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The project, which will have a power generation capacity of 9900 mw after being fully commissioned,

is the biggest taken up in the country till now and will be implemented by the Nuclear Power

Corporation of India (NPCIL).

Locals have been protesting against the project since 2006, when the state government initiated the

acquisition of land process. Over 938 hectares from Madban, Niveli, Karel, Mithgavane and Varilwada

villages had been acquired.

Villagers claimed the acquisition was undemocratic and unjust. Only 126 of the 2,335-odd families,

whose land is under acquisition, have agreed to the compensation offered by the government. The

protests gained ground in last year with villagers from neighbouring villages joining in. Concerns

regarding loss of livelihood and the impact on health have been raised and fishermen and farmers

have joined hands. The Janhit Seva Samiti (JSS) and Konkan Vinashkari Prakalp Bachao Samiti

(KVPBS) may hand over a charter of demands to Chavan. The foremost demand will be for the

projects cancellation, said Dr Milind Desai, a JSS member. He said, The project is being imposed on

villagers even though over 90% people are against it. He demanded a public poll among villagers on

the issue.

NPCIL project director C B Jain said many villagers supported the project, but they are being

threatened.

Ramesh Kajve, another JSS member and local Congress leader, rubbished Jains contention. Let there

be a secret ballot. Let the truth come out, he said. Meanwhile, those who support the project have to

face the wrath of locals. Many are being disowned by villages and are not being invited to social

functions. Sayli Waghdhare, whose husband Sanjay accepted compensation, said they had to shift

from Madban to Mirzod.

Top

Right info needed to ease nuclear power safety fears

18 January 2011, Times of India

MUMBAI: Director-general of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano on Monday

said that if appropriate information were passed to the public, it would go a long way in allaying

their fears about safety of nuclear power. Amano made this point during an interaction with the media

when he was asked about public opposition at Jaitapur towards the construction of nuclear reactors in

the locality. Transparency is needed. Amano was in Mumbai to attend the 21st annual conference of

the Indian Nuclear Society and present the Homi Bhabha Lifetime Achievement Award to former

atomic energy commission (AEC) chairman Anil Kakodkar. Praising Indias safety standards in the

nuclear sector, Amano said at the same time this should not lead to any form complacency.

This is the 25th year of the Chernobyl disaster and nuclear safety has been enhanced all over the

world. But, I would say that it should not result in complacency. Regarding the controversy

surrounding nuclear liability in India, all he would say was that progress is being made. It may be

recalled that the US, France and Russia have raised certain issues regarding Indias nuclear liability

law and so far efforts to find a common meeting ground have not proved too successful. On global

nuclear issues, referring to the report that the US and Israel had teamed up to develop the Stuxnet

worm which seriously affected Irans nuclear weapon programme, he said that though there have

been a lot of discussions about this worm, the knowledge of IAEA is limited. I welcome the idea of

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the P-5 countries planning to have a dialogue with Iran, he said. Regarding China assisting Pakistan

in its nuclear programme, he said that the matter came under the purview of the Nuclear Suppliers'

Group (NSG).

Earlier, addressing the large gathering of atomic scientists, he said that the number of countries using

nuclear power was 60 at the moment and it was expanding. About 10 to 25 new reactors will be

constructed between now and 2030, he said, while pointing out that the centre of this massivegrowth was Asia, particularly in India, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. According to him, of

the 61 reactors under construction, 39 are in Asia. Many of the countries which want nuclear power

are developing countries.

Top

Jaitapur villagers boycott meet with CM, scientists

19 January 2011, Times of India

MUMBAI: Project-affected people from Jaitapur boycotted on Tuesday a meeting organized by chief

minister Prithviraj Chavan, in coordination with eminent nuclear scientists and the Nuclear Power

Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), to clear misconceptions about nuclear power. The boycott was

mainly because many inhabitants believe the nuclear power plant will make them impotent, or that

they will get cancer and their children will have physical deformities. This could be a major hurdle in

developing Indias biggest 21st century 10,000 MW nuclear power plant.

The belief is mainly the result of deep-rooted superstitions due to illiteracy, and has increased anger

among the people who are fighting tooth and nail against the project, which has been approved by the

Union ministry of environment and forests headed by Jairam Ramesh. Many children in Jaitapur are

boycotting schools where the state government had planned to make them aware about the benefits

of nuclear power. However, many people from the Konkan region attended the meeting at theYashwantrao Chavan Centre, besides Jaitapur natives who live in Mumbai. Raja Patwardhan, who hails

from Jaitapur, said, The locals think that children with bigger heads or more than one head will be

born in the village.

He told Chavan and nuclear experts like Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) chairman Srikumar

Banerjee and former chairman Anil Kakodkar, who were present at the meeting, to explain the issue.

Dr Rajendra Badve, director of the Tata Memorial Centre, on behalf of the nuclear scientists, said the

ratio of such diseases was very low among people living near nuclear plants, compared to people in

other areas of the country.

Chavan said that since he had worked closely with the AEC while he was in the prime ministers office,

it was his firm belief that the Jaitapur project would be a boon to the state and the country. Had the

project been a threat to people in the area, I would have been the first person to stop it from comingup in the state, he said.

On why people had boycotted the meet, Chavan said he could not help it if someone decided to

oppose the plant based on ideology. However, he said, he was not averse to holding such meetings

whenever needed. Some sarpanchs of villages around Jaitapur had resigned in protest against the

plant.

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Many people in Jaitapur also believe the area may experience earthquakes daily if the power plant

comes up, as it is not far away from the Koyna dam. But scientists like Dr S P Dharne of the NPCIL

said there had been seismic activity in Bhuj, near the Kakrapar power plant, and in Almora, near the

Narora power plant, but the plants were safe and never contributed to seismic sensitivity. Nuclear

scientists Sharad Kale and Shrikumar Apte said there would not be any effect of radiation on

agricultural products and marine life in the area.

Top

EAC clears Jaitapur nuclear plant

19 November 2010, Hindustan Times

NEW DELHI: A 10,000 MW controversial nuclear power plant in Maharashtra to be set up by a French

company may be a goodwill gesture to French President Nicolas Sarkozy when he arrives in India on

December 4. The last hurdle for Indias biggest nuclear power plant in Jaitapur district of Maharashtrawas cleared on Monday when an environment ministry committee considered the Department of

Atomic Energys environment impact assessment report of the plant being built by French company

Areva. Very soon approval will be announced, was the reply of a senior ministry functionary when

asked about the EACs decision. The EAC will soon submit its recommendations to environment

Minister Jairam Ramesh. You can expect the approval in two weeks and that is well before President

Sarkozys visit to India. Sarkozys Indian four-day visit starts in first week of December and the

agreement between Areva and Department of Atomic Energy is expected to be signed in his presence.

The plant is being set up on 938hectares of land acquired from 2,300 people. Ministry officials told HT

that most hurdles for the setting up the plant have been cleared. The Nuclear Power Corporation of

India, the project proponent, has been asked to put the revised Environment Impact Assessment

report on its website. The EAC headed by AR Reddy had visited the project site on October 27 under

heavy security to find whether the green field project would have an adverse ecological impact amid

protest by locals and NGOs, who had been claiming that the nuclear plant will destroy aunique plateauin Western Ghats. The Environment Impact Assessment report prepared by Nagpur based National

Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) had said that there will be no adverse impact on

the ecology. It is a rocky and barren land with no habitation and vegetation. There is no roosting or

breeding sites and is not used for saltpans or drying of fish. Therefore, the conversion of this land will

have no impact on the flora, fauna and human activities, the report read. But, those opposing the

project claim that the plateau, which is unique in Western Ghats, has a seasonal bio-diversity for

which NEERI did not collect any scientific data. In addition, the Konkan Bachao Andolan (KBA) had

alleged that the information on impact of radio activity from the plant on locals have not been shared

with them. The EAC, which did not meet any of the locals during their visit, now appears to have

validated the NEERI claim, enough to grant environment clearance to the project. Unlike other

environment clearance, the government has been secretive on nuclear plants as none of the minutes

of EAC meeting on Jaitapur power plant are in public domain. The environment ministry was

apparently under pressure to speed up the environment clearance process for Jaitapur plant as it

would be first nuclear plant after Nuclear Supplies Group clearance. France was the first country to

sign a civil nuclear deal with India in 2008 ending 34 years of Indian isolation in getting nuclear

supply.

Top

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Jaitapur N-unit gets green nod

30 November 2010, Times of India

MUMBAI: The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has given environment clearance tothe controversial Jaitapur nuclear power project slated to come up in Madban village (Ratnagiri

district) along the Konkan coast. This is the second major project, after the Navi Mumbai airport, to be

cleared by Minister Jairam Ramesh in a week. The 9,900-mw Jaitapur nuclear power plant, the

countrys largest, will be set up in collaboration with French firm Areva. The final contracts are

scheduled to be signed in the first half of 2011. The project has elicited a huge outcry, with mass

protests by local fishermen and environmentalists who fear that it will not only kill the rich marine

biodiversity of the Konkan belt but also destroy the livelihood of the local fishing community. The true

impact of the project of this scale will never be known unless one decides to do a comprehensive

biodiversity assessment. The thermal discharge of this scale is bound to cause an eco-system shift in a

large area. Even a 0.5 degree of continuous thermal stress will lead to mortality of marine species.

And here we are talking about a 5-degree shift, said Deepak Apte, marine biologist and deputy

director of the Bombay Natural History (BNHS). Incidentally, the environmental clearance for the

Jaitapur project was given in just 80 days from the time the final environment impact assessment

(EIA) report was submitted by the Nuclear Power Corporation (NPCIL).

Navi Mumbai Int'l Airport to be commissioned by 2014

MUMBAI: TheNavi MumbaiInternational Airportproject is "well on the way of being commissioned by

2014," Maharashtra Legislature was informed here today.

The announcement was made by Governor K Sankaranarayanan in his address to the joint sitting of the

Legislature.

With a proposed capacity of 60 million passengers per year, this airport will be able to absorb the

burgeoning air travel demands of the passengers, he said.

Considering the traffic and transportation needs of Mumbai city, the Government has taken upMetro

Railand Mono- Rail Projects to enhance the public transport system and to provide efficient and

commuter-friendly mass transit to commuters, he said.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/Navi-Mumbaihttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/Navi-Mumbaihttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/International-Airporthttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/International-Airporthttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/International-Airporthttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/Metro-Railhttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/Metro-Railhttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/Metro-Railhttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/Metro-Railhttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/Metro-Railhttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/Metro-Railhttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/International-Airporthttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/Navi-Mumbai

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Preliminary survey for implementing the 32 km elevated Metro Line-2 from Charkop to Mankhurd has also

been completed and work will be started very soon, he said.

The Government has almost completed the work of all weather road connectivity of villages in the state,

the Governor said. The Government has taken an ambitious programme of four laning of the National

Highways in the state, he said.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/navi-

mumbai-intl-airport-to-be-commissioned-by-2014/articleshow/7702232.cms

Finally, Navi Mumbai airport gets green nod

NEW DELHI: Mumbai will finally have a modern airport. The much-delayed project got the green light onMonday, after the ministries of environment andcivil aviationrelented from their respective positions.

The 'give-and-take' spirit that facilitated the agreement was evident at the press conference addressed byUnion environment ministerJairam Rameshand Union civil aviation ministerPraful Patel. The clearancefor the project, given after nearly a year of discussions, comes with 32 specific conditions and safeguardsto counter the environmental impact of setting up an airport in the ecologically-sensitive zone.

"Today (on Monday), the environmental clearance has been formally given to the Navi Mumbai project.The provisions of building the airport will start today," said Mr Ramesh.

One of the conditions is the preparation of a fresh comprehensive post-project environment impact

assessment report. This has been suggested as the proposal has undergone several changes after it wasfirst submitted for clearance. The fresh report will be prepared under the airport's approved layout, thenew hydrological scenario, altered topography and land use.

This revised environmental impact assessment report would also include ecological aspects and provideanswers to queries raised by Bombay Natural History Society.

The minister said that over the past few months, the environment and civil aviation min

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