The Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh, today suggested a “pause” for the Jaitapur nuclear project in Maharashtra till a transparent nuclear policy is formulated.
Maintaining that concern over the project was genuine after the earthquake and tsunami devastation in Japan, he said the Jaitapur plant can be put on hold till various issues are sorted out.
“We cannot abandon the project. But I am neither pleading reversal or fast progression as a pause is the best option till a transparent nuclear policy is formulated,” Mr Ramesh told reporters here, adding “I have conveyed my sentiments to the Prime Minister”.
He said: “We should not have any secret atomic policy”.
Mr Ramesh was here to lay the foundation stone of a bio-remediation project for cleaning up the Budha Nulla river.