External forces provoking people against nuclear project: Chavan
Published: Feb 27, 2011 21:42 Updated: Feb 27, 2011 21:42
JAITAPUR: Hitting out at the opposition parties, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithivraj Chavan alleged that some external forces were attempting to sabotage the Jaitapur nuclear plant project in Konkan region, which is meant to solve the energy problem in the state.
Speaking at a function at the nuclear plant project on Saturday, where he faced stiffed opposition from protesting farmers, Chavan alleged that a European person was furnishing wrong information about the project to the local residents and misleading them. However, Chavan avoided more details about the European person.
Chavan further said: "Leaflets and pictures containing wrong information was being distributed so that the state cannot progress. Screening of video clips of a incident in a different state was being shown to the people and thus creating fears in the minds of the people about the Jaitapur nuclear plant project.
"A lot of energy would be produced at the plant with extremely secure technology, and some residents would have to migrate. But the government would rehabilitate them properly. Because of the project entire Maharashtra along with Konkan would benefit economically," Chavan added.
Chavan during his first visit to the plant along with state Industries Minister Narayan Rane, sought to ally the fears of the local residents about any danger from the nuclear plant. Chavan and Rane dismissed the opposition to the project as "misconception and politically motivated," fueled by external forces hostile to the project. The chief minister alleged that some external powers did not wish India to develop, though he did not name who these external powers were.
"Despite the attempts of some external powers to sabotage the project by provoking the people, but India will overcome that. The people should not be swayed by the external and internal powers, though the people may have different views but then they should not be influenced by misconceptions and wrong information," Chavan told the large gathering in his speech.