Centre says Jaitapur power project will remain in Maharashtra
The nuclear power plant poses a hazard and it should be moved out of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray said. (Source: PTI)
The centre has categorically indicated to the Maharashtra government that the 9,000 MW controversial Jaitapur nuclear power plant will remain in Maharashtra. The loud and clear message has been conveyed to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis by the union ministry of energy lead by Piyush Goyal.
The Shiv Sena, which is an alliance partner of the BJP in state, has been mounting pressure on Fadnavis to relocate the nuclear power plant from Maharashtra to Gujarat. The Sena also launched an agitation at nuclear power plant site at Ratnagiri district in Konkan.
Almost 24 hours after the Sena’s agitation, energy minister Chandrakant Bawankule confirmed, “ The Jaitapur comes under the jurisdiction of the centre. As far as state government is concerned we have made provisions to facilitate the land acquisition for the project. The work on the proposed site for nuclear power plant is underway.”
The Fadnavis government has been grappling with the critical issue as Sena has taken to streets. The Sena president Uddhav Thackeray warned, “The nuclear power plant poses a hazard and it should be moved out of Maharashtra.”
Highly placed sources in the energy ministry conveyed to Indian Express, “ There is no question of stalling the ongoing project. However, all the apprehensions raised on rehabilitation and compensation to project affected people are being addressed on war footing.”
The state government reckons that providing sustained power at lower tariff remains a challenge for the government at a time when coal
shortage has lead to closure of thermal plants and affected 1805 MW.
While acknowledging the growing financial burden on state following massive subsidies to agriculture sector, energy minister emphasised on need to promote non-conventional energy sources. It includes Fadnavis government’s ambitious project of providing five lakh solar pumps in next five years.
However, energy minister has reassured to rationalise the power tariff to extend sops to industries and also check private players from
hiking the power rates in Mumbai and its suburbs.
According to Bawankule, “ The government will initiate measures not to allow Reliance Energy to hike the electricity tariff which would
burden people in Mumbai and suburbs.” He also reassured to curtail the transmission losses.
Source:: Indian Express
