French Ambassador meets Maharashtra CM; Jaitapur discussed

Mumbai, Feb 7 (PTI) French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafonttoday met Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan anddiscussed a host of issues, including the controversialnuclear power plant at Jaitapur which is to be built incollaboration with French firm Areva.

"The meeting was about the tourism policy of the stateand we are taking their (French) cooperation in the sector.

Jaitapur was one of the issues discussed and he (theAmbassador) expressed some concerns about the project," Chavantold reporters after the meeting at Mantralaya (secretariat)here.

The meeting assumes significance in the backdrop ofopposition by locals and environmentalists to the 10,000 mwplant in the coastal Konkan region. French Government-ownednuclear company Areva has signed a deal to supply reactors forthe mega project.

The CM declined to divulge further details of themeet.

Chavan will soon be visiting Jaitapur. "I have notfinalised the date, but I would be visiting the place soon."

Industry Minister Narayan Rane, who hails from Konkan,recently visited Jaitapur to convince people about theproject.