In the latest roadblock, government contractors were forced to retreat on Friday from the site identified by government of India to build a 6,000 MW nuclear power plant in Mithi Virdi-Jaspara villages of Bhavnagar district.
Is urban India stepping a bit too much on the toes of rural India to meet its demands? In the latest roadblock, government contractors were forced to retreat on Friday from the site identified by government of India to build a 6,000 MW nuclear power plant in Mithi Virdi-Jaspara villages of Bhavnagar district. This was after around 3,000 villagers gheraoed the site, protesting against the agricultural land acquisition of five villages.
According to details provided by activist Krishnakant Chauhan, government contractors, along with a posse of policemen, turned up at the site at 5 am to undertake soil testing. As soon as villagers heard police and other vehicles drive into the area, an alert (drum beats in each village) was sounded in the five villages.
Over 3,000 people rushed to the site. Government officials at first continued to try to force through the soil testing by unloading drilling equipment but people surrounded the site and refused to allow them to start work.
"After frantic phone calls to higher ups and everyone who mattered they finally relented and announced withdrawal and started reloading their equipment," Chauhan stated.
National Alliance of People's Movements, Anu Abhyas Group, Bhavnagar District Gram Bachao Samiti, Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti and Gujarat Lok Samiti have been spearheading an awareness campaign in 40 villages in the area for the last three years.
Nuclear Power Corporation Ltd and various Gujarat government agencies have intensified efforts to set up shop in the area and people have resisted all such attempts. A public meet, attended by over 7,000 people, was held on April 25 to impress upon the government that it should drop any idea of the N-power plant.
But various government agencies have been persisting with their efforts. On June 9, police officers visited Mithi Virdi and Jaspara villages to persuade people to let officials undertake soil testing but they were firmly told to go back. The Gram Sabha (village assembly) gave them the same message that night.
Police again went to the villages the next day, warning that government officials would carry out soil testing under police protection from June 11. The villagers decided to resist this non-violently. The site, in fact, is right next to Alang ship-breaking yard.
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