Rs450 crore package soon for Jaitapur affected

A new compensation package totalling over Rs450 crore for people affected by the Jaitapur nuclear power project is expected to be announced soon.

The package, put together by the Maharashtra government and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, betters the initial Rs 15 crore compensation offered by the state government to the 2,300 persons whose land was acquired for the ambitious project to build six nuclear power plants to generate 9900 MW electricity.

"The entire package would be in the excess of Rs 450 crore," a top Maharashtra government functionary said, making it clear that the additional amount would be given as ex-gratia and not as compensation for land.

The total package of Rs450 crore includes giving new boats for the fishing community, construction of jetties and infrastructure projects for community development.

The state government has already acquired 938 hectares of land for the project which is being developed in collaboration with French nuclear company Areva.

Officials pointed out that only seven per cent of the total land acquired was agricultural land.

The Jaitapur project seen the locals and anti-nuclear power activists raise a banner of protest, which at times has turned violent.

Shiv Sena, the opposition party in the state, had initially backed the project but has made a U-turn after the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan.