Konkan body warns CM Fadnavis of protest over Jaitapur plant

Mumbai: Swatantra Konkan Rajya Kriti Samiti, an organisation that is active in representing issues related to the Konkan region, has threatened to show black flags to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on his visit to Ratnagiri on April 30.

“The Jaitapur nuclear power project will damage the biodiversity and horticulture of Konkan region. We will not allow this project to continue. CM Fadnavis is wrongly pushing this project on us. We will launch a strong protest against him when he will be in Ratnagiri,” said Adesh Khade, the chief of the Swatantra Konkan Rajya Kriti Samiti.

While the committee has raised a number of issues, its principal demand is related to the Jaitapur nuclear power project, which is coming up in Rajapur tehsil of Ratnagiri district. “The Konkan region is known for its nature. The government should not destroy it by bulldozing different power projects,” demanded the organisation’s deputy chief Suhas Cheulkar.

“We are opposing setting up the nuclear power project. If the CM wants to give reason of employment then he must promote tourism industry in region,” Mr Cheulkar further said.

Mr Fadnavis will travel to Sakharapa village of Ratnagiri district on April 30 to inaugurate different developmental projects including the Mumbai-Goa national highway. The committee has threatened to show the chief minister black flags if Mr Fadnavis does not clarify his stand on projects in Konkan region by then.

Recently, Mr Fadnavis and other senior officers of the state government met a delegation of French officers and discussed the Jaitapur project at length. Mr Fadnavis asked the French to expedite the procedure of giving jobs to locals in the project. He also asked the delegation to start a technical awareness programme for locals. However, local protestors have opposed Mr Fadnavis’ stand to support the power
project.