5-member panel to meet locals opposing Jaitapur nuclear project

The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has set up a five-member Committee to meet the locals of Jaitapur opposing the nuclear power project there.

MPCC president Manikrao Thakresaid that the committee will visit Jaitapur in a day or two to hold talks with the locals, fisherfolk community and understand why are they opposing the project.

"The committee will compile a report and the state unit Congress will submit it to the government," he added.

Thakre made it clear that the state unit was not taking a stand to oppose the project. Shiv Sena has already announced its opposition to the project.

"We will stand by the local people and ensure that they do not suffer. The party wants to know what are their problems," he added.

The committee comprises MLCs Subhash Chavan, Rajan Teli and Alka Desai along with general secretaries Mahadeo Shelar, Rajan Bhosale and Nirmala Samant-Prabhawalkar.

He said MPCC has convened a meeting of block presidents of the state unit as well as the frontal organisations on December 27 to discuss the "Janjagran Abhiyan" to be undertaken as per the decision of the AICC to counter the BJP's "mispropoganda".

The first Janjagran meeting will take place in Thane on the same day and over 400 rallies are being planned across the state.

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and central leaders will participate in all the rallies, he added.