Take Jaitapur project to Gujarat, says Uddhav

Mumbai, March 9 (IANS) The Shiv Sena on Monday toughened its stance vis-a-vis the BJP on the upcoming Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project, saying if the BJP wanted it so badly, it could shift the 'monstrous project' to Gujarat.

"We are totally opposed to the Jaitapur project. It will destroy the entire Konkan region. If they (BJP) feels it is so good and precious, they can take it to Gujarat," Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said in a veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He contended that the project was entirely unnecessary for the state as the amount of power it would generate can easily be purchased from other states, even if it meant paying higher price for it.

"For a few megawatts of power, you cannot inconvenience the entire people of the state. This 'monstrous' project should not be imposed on the people of the Konkan region," Thackeray told media persons here on Monday evening.

JNPP, the world's biggest nuclear power project in terms of net electric power rating, is coming up in Madhban village in Ratnagiri district of the coastal Konkan region of the state.

The 9,900 MW power plant, constructed with collaboration of French firm Areva S.A., is spread over nearly 1,000 hectares of land in and around Madhban.

In continuation of the Sena's opposition to the project since the past few years, Thackeray also announced launching a fresh anti-JNPP agitation from March 16.

Reiterating the party's opposition to the land acquisition bill, Thackeray said if any land is forcibly acquired for private schools, hospitals and industry, the party will resist it.