The movement against the Jaitapur nuclear power plant has intensified further with the formation of a People's Commission to record diverse views on the proposed 10,000 MW plant, and make its findings public.
The Commission will be headed by Mr A.P. Shah, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, and Mr S.D. Pandit, former judge of the Bombay High Court. They will hold hearings from May 19-21 at St Xavier's College, Mumbai.
The Commission is being held under the aegis of Lok Shashan Andolan and supported by other activist organisations such as Konkan Vinashkari Prakalp Virodhi Samiti and local farmer's action groups.
The President of Lok Shashan Andolan, Mr B.G. Kolshe Patil, who is also a retired judge of Bombay High Court, said that the Commission will at least open communication between those who are opposing the plant and those supporting it. “We have invited more than 100 government officials for the hearing,” he said.
Earlier, activists were accused of being adamant and not being forthcoming for debate on the nuclear plant. But this new initiative aims to break that barrier, he added.
People can depose before the Commission or they can send in their views in the form of published papers. Mr Shah and Mr Pandit, who are known for their unbiased views, will hear both the sides, Mr Kolshe Patil said.
The Commission will look at safety, viability and cost-efficiency of the power plant. Environmental and nuclear experts, local activists and project affected people from the five villages around Jaitapur are expected to depose before the Commission.
Dr Vivek Bhide, President of the Ratnagiri Zilla Jagruk Manch, an activist body fighting against nuclear plant, said that the Commission will help in making the intelligentsia and the student community more aware of the multifarious problems created by nuclear power plants.
“By making these two communities aware of the nuclear issues, the government will find it difficult to defend the decision to set up the plant at Jaitapur. The recent student protest at Tata Institute of Social Sciences is one such example,” he said.
PTI adds: Besides Jaitapur locals, those affected by nuclear power projects in other parts of the country, will also depose before the tribunal.
The former Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) Chairman, Mr A. Gopalkrishnan, alleged that the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Mr Prithviraj Chavan, the former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, Dr Anil Kakodkar, and officials of French agency Areva had discussed the Jaitapur nuclear power plant issue at Prime Minister's Office six years ago.