Left trade unions protest against Jaitapur nuclear project

Left trade unions and environmentalists today demanded that the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power plant in Konkan be scrapped following the risk posed by such plants as seen during the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

"The Jaitapur project should be scrapped as it poses a risk," CPI leader Prakash Reddy said, addressing a protest march this evening.

Reddy accused noted nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar of 'misleading' people by saying the Jaitapur project was safe from tsunami threat.

The CPI leader also alleged that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and chief minister Prithviraj Chavan were 'agents' of French company Areva which is supplying reactors for the project.

The government is imposing the project under pressure from foreign companies, Reddy said.

The Konkan Vinashkari Prakalp Virodhi Samiti, the Konkan Bachao Samiti and a coalition of trade unions, anti-nuclear groups and democratic rights activists participated in the march.