Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds energy portfolio, said in the legislative council today that in the wake of crisis at tsunami-hit nuclear plant in Japan, all additional security measures would be taken.
The state government today asserted that it would go ahead with the controversial Jaitapur nuclear power plant, with additional safety measures if necessary.
Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds energy portfolio, said in the legislative council today that in the wake of crisis at tsunami-hit nuclear plant in Japan, all additional security measures would be taken.
"After Japan incident, the prime minister himself has assured to review all the atomic power plants across the country. Also, the chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, Dr S Banerjee, has said that crisis in Japan would be studied, and appropriate changes would be made to new plants here," Pawar said.
All the security measures would be implemented to ensure the safety of local people, he said.
Pawar also said that Japan falls under seismic zone nine, while Jaitapur falls under zone three, with much less risk of earthquake.
The crisis in Japan was due to tsunami and not because of earthquake, Pawar said, adding that on an average, tsunami wave can be 25 to 30 feet high, while the Jaitapur plant would be situated 75-feet above the sea level.
Pawar also cited the examples of nuclear plants at Kakrapara in Gujarat and Kalpakam in Tamil Nadu, where no harm was caused to local population, despite earthquake and tsunami, respectively.
"Doing politics (over the project) is not right...One should think of the state's progress in the long run. It is difficult to increase industries, without being self-sufficient in power," he said.
As to the compensation for project-affected people, Pawar said proposal for increase in compensation was awaiting chief minister's approval. "Considering that total investment in the Jaitapur project is of Rs1 lakh crore, compensation amount has been increased from Rs60,000 per acre to some lakh rupees....The proposal is before the chief minister for approval."
Congress MLC Husain Dalwai asked if the Government would be considering fishermen community for a separate compensation. Dalwai said that though scientists had assured that project would cause no harm to marine life, and fishing, government should consider giving separate compensation to the fishermen in the area.
Pawar said that fishermen too were eligible for compensation, and government would consider a separate package for them, if needed.
Altogether, 2335 people are eligible for the compensation, of which 131 have received money, totalling Rs1.11 crore so far, he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}