Mumbai: Opposition to the Jaitapur nuclear power project refuses to die down as activists lead a Tarapur-Jaitapur march, despite prohibitory orders to enter Ratnagiri district, while an exhibition in Mumbai depicts the dangers of nuclear accidents.
The photography exhibition entitled Human Cost of Nuclear Accidents by renowned photographer Robert Knoth marks the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster that took place on the morning of April 26, 1986.
Inaugurating the exhibition launched by Greenpeace on Sunday, Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi said, "We cannot have a democratically elected government ignoring the wishes of its people and forcing an inherently dangerous technology on its people against the interest of their security and welfare."
Samit Aich, Greenpeace India Executive Director, said, "Mumbai today is at the heart of the debate on whether or not India should build the largest nuclear reactor park in the world, a 9,900 MW EPR at Jaitapur."
Earthquake zone
The European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) technology is untried and experts say there are concerns about its design, safety and cost. In India, these concerns would be multiplied due to weak regulation and the proposed location — a high risk earthquake zone.
"The people of Jaitapur don't want the project. The situation is reaching a boiling point because Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has failed to address their concerns," Aich said. "Why do we want a technology that is inherently dangerous when we can have clean, safe and energy secure power solutions if we choose energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies."
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray visited the family of Tabrez Sayekar who was killed in police firing during protests.
Thackeray, along with several party workers from the area met the widow and relatives of Sayekar at his home in the coastal fishing village of Sakhri-Nate. The party offered Rs200,000 to the victim's family. Thackeray also visited two people who were injured in the firing and are now at the Ratnagiri Civil Hospital.
The photography exhibition entitled Human Cost of Nuclear Accidents by renowned photographer Robert Knoth marks the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster that took place on the morning of April 26, 1986.
Inaugurating the exhibition launched by Greenpeace on Sunday, Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi said, "We cannot have a democratically elected government ignoring the wishes of its people and forcing an inherently dangerous technology on its people against the interest of their security and welfare."
Samit Aich, Greenpeace India Executive Director, said, "Mumbai today is at the heart of the debate on whether or not India should build the largest nuclear reactor park in the world, a 9,900 MW EPR at Jaitapur."
Earthquake zone
The European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) technology is untried and experts say there are concerns about its design, safety and cost. In India, these concerns would be multiplied due to weak regulation and the proposed location — a high risk earthquake zone.
"The people of Jaitapur don't want the project. The situation is reaching a boiling point because Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has failed to address their concerns," Aich said. "Why do we want a technology that is inherently dangerous when we can have clean, safe and energy secure power solutions if we choose energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies."
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray visited the family of Tabrez Sayekar who was killed in police firing during protests.
Thackeray, along with several party workers from the area met the widow and relatives of Sayekar at his home in the coastal fishing village of Sakhri-Nate. The party offered Rs200,000 to the victim's family. Thackeray also visited two people who were injured in the firing and are now at the Ratnagiri Civil Hospital.
