Environmentalists in Gujarat have claimed that the March 5 environmental public hearing (EPH) for the 6,000-MWe nuclear power plant in Saurashtra’s Bhavnagar district will be on the basis of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) by Engineers India Limited, which did not have the necessary accreditation.
Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, a leading environment action body in Gujarat, has demanded that the public hearing for the project at Mithi Virdi be stopped and the EIA submitted by Engineers India scrapped.
The Samiti has cited the following references in the EIA for the project to buttress its claim.
The EIA report on page numbers 387-389 volume – I clearly states: “… National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET) — under the Accreditation Scheme for EIA Consultant Organisations — has accredited EIL as EIA consultant for 9 EIA Sectors, vide NABET notification dated 14.09.10. […]
“… For ‘Nuclear Power projects and processing of nuclear fuel’ sector, EIL’s application along with other consultants is still pending at NABET. However, till date NABET has not cleared any application related to nuclear sector.”
Rohit Prajapati and Krishnakant of the Samiti insist that these facts on page 387-389 of Volume – I of EIA for Mithi Virdi Nuclear Power Plant by EIL invite strict action against NPCIL and EIL also.
“We are shocked that how come the authority concerned has given clearance for conducting EPH in such a matter of grave concern involving the security of the lakhs of people.”
