The West Bengal government on Wednesday announced its decision to scrap the proposed 6,000 MW nuclear power project at Haripur in the East Midnapore district. Trinamool Congress had supported the local agitation against the project.
Replying to questions in the Legislative Assembly, the State Power Minister, Mr Manish Gupta, confirmed the government’s decision to scrap the proposal for the project.
Mr Gupta alleged that the previous Left Front government had misled people about the project.
In Haripur, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) had planned to set up a nuclear park with six units of 1,000 MW each. The first phase of the project was scheduled to have two units of 1000 MW each.
LOCAL IRE
The project had been facing local ire ever since the Left Front government announced that Haripur had been selected as a prospective site for the nuclear power plant.
Local farmers and fishermen, supported by a number of non government organisations (NGOs), had launched an agitation against the project fearing eviction and loss of livelihood.
“The present government has no plans to set up nuclear power plants in any other parts of the state,” he said.
POWER DEMAND
According to Mr Gupta, the present demand for power in the State stood at 6,500 MW. Of this, 5,525 MW was generated in the state, while remaining shortfall was met by procuring power from the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd.
During his visit to Russia, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had signed an agreement with the Russian government for collaboration on setting up five nuclear plants in the country, including the one at Haripur.
The country’s nuclear power plan earlier projected developing 40,000 MW capacity in the coastal regions.
In the Twelfth Plan period, six Russian-made nuclear reactors were expected to be set up – two at Haripur in West Bengal and four at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu.