Centre approves nuclear power project in Haryana

Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said the Centre has accorded in-principle approval for setting up of a nuclear power project at Kumharia in Fatehabad district.

"A communication to this effect has been received from the chairman and managing director of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). The State government has also been informed that the NPCIL now want to move to the next stage for acquisition of land and pre-project activities," Hooda told a news conference here.

He said the Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited would be the nodal agency for the project on behalf of the State government, with whom the NPCIL would engage.

The site selection committee of the Department of Atomic Energy had recommended a site in Kumharia for setting up of the nuclear power project.

Meanwhile, on the issue of agriculture, Hooda said he had appealed to the Central government and the agriculture minister Sharad Pawar to increase the bonus for paddy by Rs100 as its cost of cultivation had increased considerably.

"The government procuring agencies have been ordered to enter market to purchase Basmati so that the farmers get remunerative price for their produce," he added.

Hooda also announced that a massive project on the development of roads and buildings, involving an investment of Rs1,600 crore, would be launched on Haryana Day on November 1.