Jaitapur N-project: Chavan allays fears over safety

Mumbai, Jan 18 (PTI) Allaying safety fears of projectaffected people over the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power plantin coastal Konkan, Maharashtra Chief Minister PrithvirajChavan today appealed people not to believe in rumours.

"The project has been designed by our own scientists. Howcan it be dangerous. How will I allow the project if it washarmful to the people. Please do not believe in rumours,"Chavan said.

The Chief Minister was speaking at an ''open house''meeting organised by him to make people aware about theproject and clear doubts and misunderstandings in this regard.

However, some of the project affected people boycottedthe meeting demanding halt to the entire power plant.

Defending the need for nuclear energy, Chavan said "nuclearenergy is a clean source of power worldwide. It has no affecton the environment. But for those who oppose the project onideological grounds (those against use of nuclear power),nothing can be done about it."

On a major concern from the fishing community in thearea, the experts from the Nuclear Power Corporation of IndiaLimited (NPCIL) said the project will not prevent or harmtheir business.

A villager who attended the meeting asked if the hotwater discharge from the nuclear plant into sea would affectmarine life and fishing.

"The hot water would be discharged inside the sea withthe help of a tunnel. The temperature limit is only up to fivedegree centigrade in first 200 metre and even less in next 200metre area which will certainly not destroy the marine life,"Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, Dr S Banerjee said.

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