Jaitapur n-power project-affected to get Rs 22 lakh per hectare

The state committee said the higher compensation does not extend to any other project.

The state government has approved a compensation of Rs 22 lakh per hectare for land acquired for the Jaitapur nuclear power project.

The ministry of revenue headed by Balasaheb Thorat gave the nod for the increase. Land for the project was acquired at costs as low as Rs 25,000 a hectare.

A special committee of officials from various departments set up to work out the compensation had sent its recommendations to the government for final approval.

The new package, which is 80 times bigger than the original, complies with the guidelines of the controversial Land Reforms Act.

The Jaitapur nuclear power project, which is expected to generate 9,900 MW, was approved in December 2010 by Nuclear Power Corporation of India. French multi-national Areva bagged the contract to construct six reactors of 1,650 MW each.

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan got the Union environment ministry to relax some norms to push the plant, a pet project of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Project work has slowed down for the past 18 months on account of vehement protests by local villagers who wanted higher compensation.

Sources said the revised compensation would be awarded to approximately 2,335 land-holders.

Interestingly, when Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited set out to acquire 938 hectares for the project, the compensation ranged from Rs 25,000 to Rs 6.5 lakh per hectare depending on quality of land.

The estimated cost of the project is now pegged at Rs 1 lakh-crore.

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