Company Name : Generic Source : The Times Of India

The controversial 9900 MW nuclear power park at Jaitapur has not only raised concerns by people on Indian soil, but also world over. Global experts have warned India of making another mistake like the Chernobyl disaster. 

 

Vladimir Chuprov, the head of energy programs at Greenpeace in Russia said, "India must not forget the devastation at Chernobyl. Instead the nation should look for renewable energy. The country must not repeat mistakes made by other developed nations. Jaitapur nuclear plant is in seismic zone." 

 

Thousands of fishermen, farmers and their families in Jaitapur in western Maharashtra state have expressed dissapointment over the loss of homes and agricultural land, as well as voiced fears about radiation and pollution. 

 

Environmentalists also oppose building the French-backed facility because of its location in the ecologically-sensitive Western Ghats mountain range and a high-risk earthquake zone, plus India's lack of an independent nuclear regulator. 

 

"The authorities are trying to spin this as people wanting more money," Lauri Myllyvirta, an energy campaigner at Greenpeace. 

 

"But the people just want to have their land and have the security of that lifestyle and income. They're very concerned about the radiation risk and whether there will be a waste-reprocessing facility on the site," added Lauri 

 

Years of wrangling over land, compensation and environmental impact have become a regular feature of many projects aimed at developing modern India. 

 

High-profile disputes include plans for a second airport on protected wetlands to service India's financial hub of Mumbai and a plan by Tata Motors to build a new manufacturing plant for the world's cheapest car, the Nano.