Environmentalists reiterate, CRZ nod to N-plant is "casual", demand time from Central officials to explain

By A Representative
In a sharply-worded letter, Krishnakant, Rohit Prajapati and Swati Desai of the Praryavaran Suraksha Samiti (PSS) have told Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, that they have still not heard from the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited on the "non-serious, casually submitted CRZ clearance / recommendation for CRZ clearance given to the proposed NPP (Nuclear Power Plant) of Mithi Virdi by the Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA)."
Referring to the ministry's letter dated May 22, 2013 in response to their letter dated March 29, 2013, April 19, 2013, and May 1, 2013, the PSS letter has also been signed by Shaktisinh H. Gohil, Sarpanch, Jaspara village, Samuben Hirabhai Dabhi, Sarpanch, Mithivirdi village, Vilasba Dharmendrasinh Gohil, Sarpanch, Mandva village, Pruthvirajsinh M. Gohil, Sarpanch, Khadarpar village. It has been simultaneously addressed to PB Rastogi, Environmental Assessment Committee, Nuclear Power Projects, Paryavaran Bhavan, and Om Prakash, Deputy Director, Minister of Environment and Forests.
The letter said, "On June 11, 2013, while giving the so-called CRZ clearance / recommendation for CRZ clearance to the NPP, the Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) states that 'The Authority deliberate the proposal of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited and after detailed discussion, the Authority decided to recommend to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India to grant CRZ clearance for construction of intake, outfall facilities, jetty and Desalination plant at Village: Mithi Virdi, Dist: Bhavnagar by M/S Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, only after submission of the following details to this Department:
'1. Detailed note regarding the safety aspects and site selection criteria along with its advantage for this site and submit to this Department.
2. A site visit should be carried out by GCZMA Member'.”
The letter underlines, "This clearly means that the Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authorities is not serious about the CRZ clearance because they have casually given this clearance / recommendation for CRZ clearance without asking for and reading the note on safety aspects, site clearance report and without undertaking the site visit. GCZMA has not taken in account the basics, for instance eventualities like population increase in the immediate vicinity of the proposed plant."
It adds, "It is unclear if the GCZMA is a victim of the non-transparent and secretive approach of NPCIL, which has not attached the report dated June 28, 2007 of Site Selection Committee even in the EIA document and also to the Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA)."
It demands, "You should reject and review the non-serious casual so-called CRZ clearance / recommendation for CRZ clearance given to the proposed NPP of Mithi Virdi by the Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA)." It asks for "date and time to explain in detail our points and other related points mentioned in the interest of justice."

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