Jaitapur villagers to boycott open house convened by Mah CM

Mumbai, Jan 18 (PTI) Project-affected people of Jaitapurnuclear power plant in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, havedecided to boycott state Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan''s''open house'' to discuss the troubled 9,900 mega watt projecthere today.

The open house meeting has been organised by the ChiefMinister to make people aware about the project and cleartheir doubts and misunderstandings in this regard.

However, in a letter written to Chavan, the locals havesaid that they would boycott the meet since ''the radiationsfrom the project could harm the surroundings and also lives ofthe villagers.''

"We have been opposing the project from the beginningand our demand is to completely halt the power plant. We alsowant our lands back which were forcefully taken from us by thegovernment and also withdrawl of cases against the activists,"the letter signed by members of Janhit Seva Samitee, Madbansaid.

Schools in the project area in Ratnagiri district, around370 km from Mumbai, remained shut for two days last week as amark of protest against the project.

Nuclear scientists, political parties, leaders ofprotesting groups and social organisations are expected toattend the meeting convened by Chavan this evening.