GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority has quietly given the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance to the controversial proposal for a nuclear power plant at Mithivirdi village in Bhavnagar district. The plant is to be built by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
Sources in the state's forest and environment department said that the
NPCIL had sent the proposal for CRZ clearance in January this year.
After scrutiny, the state government gave clearance for the 6,000 MW
nuclear power plant and also recommended the project to the Union
ministry of forests and environment for final CRZ clearance.
A
representative of the NPCIL made a presentation before the technical
committee on March 25, 2013, on the activities proposed to be carried
out in the CRZ area. "The environment impact assessment report prepared
by Engineers India Limited and the CRZ map along with boundaries demarcated by Anna University were approved," a source said.
Both the BJP government in Gujarat and the Congress-led UPA government
at the Centre are pushing hard for the Rs 60,000 crore nuclear power
plant.
Earlier, in March this year, a crucial public hearing on
the proposed project was organized. Several farmers groups, NGOs, and
anti-nuclear power plant activists opposed to the project attended the
hearing.
Former BJP MLA and leading farmers leader Dr Kanu
Kalsaria said, "The project will not only damage the environment but
snatch away the livelihood of farmers. It will also be a permanent
threat to the people."
A total of 777 hectares are to be acquired for the project out of which 603 hectares is rich agricultural land.
Along with Mithivirdi nuclear power plant, the Gujarat government has
also given CRZ clearance for the proposed barrage project across Narmada
near Bhadbhut in Bharuch district and the common effluent disposal
pipeline project along river Kolak proposed by Wel-Treat Enviro Management Organization.
CRZ clearance for the 50 MW tidal power project near Mandvi in Kutch proposed by Gujarat Power Corporation Limited was also granted by the authority.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Gujarat-clears-Mithivirdi-Nuclear-power-project/articleshow/20980059.cms
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