Construction of nuclear power plant at Kovvada of Ranasthalam mandal is going to be delayed further with the lapse of the existing land acquisition notification which was not in force in accordance with the Land Acquisition Act-2013. The district administration is being forced to issue new notification in accordance with the new Act to avoid legal hurdles in future.
The project, which was proposed almost eight years ago, remained only on papers with too many hurdles in acquiring 2,475 acres of land. Although, funds are available with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), the acquisition has not yet been done due to stiff resistance from local people.
The government reportedly tried in vain to acquire lands by stopping all the welfare schemes and benefits to the locals of Kovvada, China Kovvada, Tekkali and other nearby villages. In spite of the difficulties, the people did not cooperate with the officials.
According to sources, the government will have to face many hurdles further since stringent norms laid down in the new Land Acquisition Act-2013. Public hearing and consent of 80 per cent of people are mandatory.
Additional security measures such as jobs for the eligible persons and livelihood for the landless people living in the villages have to be implemented.
The NPCIL has originally planned to commence its production by 2018. But it seems to be highly impossible since acquiring land process has not been completed, leave about construction of the project.
NPCIL planned six nuclear reactors of 1594 MW each. Entire project has to be completed by 2022.
