Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday assured a group of activists from Maharashtra that concerns about the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP) in Ratnagiri district would be addressed scientifically before according clearance to it.
A delegation, representing the Konkan Bachao Samiti, the Janhit Sewa Samiti, the Indian School of Social Sciences, the Lok Vidnyan Sangathana, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the Maharashtra, Yusuf Meherally Centre and other organisations, met Mr. Ramesh in New Delhi to explain their objections to the project.
A copy of the submissions made to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board at the public hearing on May16 by these organisations was also handed over to him.
In a statement, the delegation members said Mr. Ramesh assured them that an expert appraisal committee would hear the objections and his Ministry suo motu initiate a cumulative environmental impact assessment study for proposed projects in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts for which the professional services of reputed institutes and organisations would be utilised.
The delegation consisted of president of the Janhit Sewa Samiti Pravin Gavankar, convenors of the Konkan Bachao Samiti Madhu Mohite and Adwait Pednekar and Vivek Monteiro, secretary, CITU Maharashtra.
Serious concerns regarding the short-term and long-term hazards of nuclear waste generated by the project and the “unsatisfactory” Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) prepared by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in Nagpur were also raised. The absence of a cumulative environmental impact assessment of multiple projects proposed on the Konkan coast was also pointed out.
Mr. Ramesh said his Ministry would ensure that the concerns were addressed in a serious, fair, transparent and democratic manner. He assured the delegation that an opportunity would be given to them to appear before the expert appraisal committee, in the presence of representatives of the government departments concerned and the NEERI. A meeting for this purpose would be convened by the Ministry shortly.
