Chavan: Wont accept n-project unless totally safe

These projects must not be opposed for the sake of opposition.

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Admitting that the nuclear emergency in Japan had raised questions about the safety of nuclear power projects,Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said on Monday his government would not accept any nuclear power project,including the proposed one in Jaitapur,unless it was totally safe.

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governors address to the joint sitting of the legislature,he said,We wont accept any nuclear project unless it is totally safe. He,however,pointed out the power scarcity and depleting fossil fuel stocks and said,These projects must not be opposed for the sake of opposition.

The CM said of the 20 nuclear power plants in India,many had withstood earthquake tremors and added that care was taken at the time of site selection to ensure that the area was not earthquake prone. Chavan said the government had not given the green signal to any nuclear power project which was above seismic zone III and added that in Japan and America,such projects were allowed in zones IV and V.

Chavan said considering the rising demand for power in Maharashtra,the state government had welcomed the Atomic Energy Commissions AEC decision to select Jaitapur as a site for the nuclear power project and helped with the land acquisition. This is a very important option for clean generation of electricity, he added. Chavan said he,along with Industries Minister Narayan Rane,had held discussions with the project-affected. There are some issues and misunderstandings, said Chavan,adding that some rumours had been spread purposely. He,however,denied that anyone was prevented from speaking at the interaction,even if they were opposing the project. Chavan added that conceptions regarding the project affecting the environment,horticulture and fishing were wrong.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar,who is also incharge of the energy portfolio,replied to a debate on the same issue in the legislative council and echoed the sentiments of Chavan.

The Jaitapur project is the first deal to be signed after India and the US clinched the civilian nuclear co-operation deal which allowed India access to the global nuclear market.