In a big step towards completion of the Jaitapur nuclear power project, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCL) has started working on the basic infrastructure such as office and roads at the project site from last week. Out of six villages, 308 landholders have accepted part of the compensation. A senior official from the land acquisition and rehabilitation department claimed that even villagers from Madban, who have been strongly opposing the project, will soon accept the compensation amount of `22.50 lakh per acre.
Ratnagiri collector Rajeev Jadhav said, “Jaitapur project will require 900 hectares of land. 2,336 families from six villages have to be rehabilitated. As per the negotiation between landholders and NPCL, `22.50 lakh per acre will be given as compensation amount.” He added, “508 families have accepted part of the amount as a reward.” According to sources, `5.25 lakh per acre has already been given to these families.
Sources said that work has been started inside the compound of the project site without any local protest. However, Shiv Sena has been against the Jaitapur nuclear project. Tarbej Sayekar, a villager, was killed in police firing on 20 April 2011 in Shiv Sena-led protests.
Shailesh Waghdare of the villagers’ Madban Panchakroshi Sangharsh Samiti said, “The landholders who have accepted compensation, are not actual residents of the affected villages. They are the people who have settled in cities long back. Their number is also small, but people living in affected villages are opposing the project. Madban and Niveli are the most affected villages, and we will continue our protest. NPCL is forcefully acquiring the land of survey no. 119, which is perennial and not included in the project’s acquisition.