Locals stick to anti-N plant stand before ‘People’s Tribunal’

Students of the Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) protesting against Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest for his stand on Nuclear power plant at Jaitapur. Jairam Ramesh delevered his address during the 71st convocation of the institute in Mumbai on Wednesday. Photo: Vivek Bendre

Continuing the strong opposition to the proposed 9,900 mw nuclear power project in Jaitapur in the coastal Ratnagiri district, the villagers from the nearby Sakhri-Nate village today alleged that their voice of protest had been suppressed by the “autocratic government”.

Around 20 villagers, mostly from fishermen community, deposed before the “People’s Tribunal” of Justice (retd) A P Shah and Justice (retd) S D Pandit which is conducting a non-governmental inquiry into the controversial project.

“Police beat me up with sticks and also hurt my 10-year-old son when he went to see the protest”, said Noorjehan Kate, deposing before the tribunal.

“We are concerned about the large amount of hot water that will be discharged from the nuclear plant into the sea.

It will harm water ecology and marine diversity and will be disastrous for fishing activity,” said president of the Maharashtra Macchimar Kruti Samiti (Ratnagiri district).

Both Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and Nuclear Power Corporation Limited (NPCL) sent the documents sought by the tribunal. However no official from these two organisations deposed.

Lashing out at the AERB, Justice A P Shah said, “I don’t know why there is this half-hearted approach by the AERB. It is unfortunate that the officials don’t want to face the people’s court.”

The documents too did not have answers to the objections raised by the tribunal, Justice Shah added.