Mumbai: In the wake of Japan`s nuclear
plants being at risk due to the earthquake and tsunami that
struck the country, Maharashtra government on Friday said 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 the
energy portfolio, said in the Legislative Council today that
in the wake of the crisis at the 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, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission Dr S
Banerjee has said that the 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, which has 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 the local population despite an earthquake and a
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 the proposal for increase in compensation was awaiting
the Chief Minister`s approval.
"Considering that total investment in the Jaitapur
project is of Rs 1 lakh crore, compensation amount has been
increased from Rs 60,000 per acre to some lakh rupees ... The
proposal is before the Chief Minister for approval."
PTI
