Jaitapur N-project: Chavan allays fears over safety

MUMBAI: Allaying safety fears of project affected people over the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power plant in coastal Konkan, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today appealed people not to believe in rumours.

"The project has been designed by our own scientists. How can it be dangerous. How will I allow the project if it was harmful to the people. Please do not believe in rumours," Chavan said.

The Chief Minister was speaking at an 'open house' meeting organised by him to make people aware about the project and clear doubts and misunderstandings in this regard.

However, some of the project affected people boycotted the meeting demanding halt to the entire power plant. Defending the need for nuclear energy, Chavan said "nuclear energy is a clean source of power worldwide. It has no affect on the environment. But for those who oppose the project on ideological grounds (those against use of nuclear power), nothing can be done about it."

On a major concern from the fishing community in the area, the experts from the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited ( NPCIL) said the project will not prevent or harm their business.

A villager who attended the meeting asked if the hot water discharge from the nuclear plant into sea would affect marine life and fishing.

"The hot water would be discharged inside the sea with the help of a tunnel. The temperature limit is only up to five degree centigrade in first 200 metre and even less in next 200 metre area which will certainly not destroy the marine life," Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, Dr S Banerjee said.