Development at what cost? The questions raised by Banka's nuclear project

By Kumar Krishnan*  

The progress of a civilized society cannot be measured merely by the number of power plants it builds, the height of its skyscrapers, or the scale of its industrial expansion. The true measure of development lies in whether public policies make life safer, more dignified, and more secure for the most vulnerable citizens. If a project benefits millions but compels thousands to surrender their ancestral land, forests, culture, and identity, the first duty of a democracy is to strike a fair balance between development and justice.

This dilemma is now unfolding in Raghunathpur Panchayat of Belhar block in Bihar's Banka district. The growing unrest over the proposed nuclear power plant in villages such as Kathara, Nimatand, Dubraj, Letwa, Kaithatikar, Kenduajharna, Maltaria, and nearby settlements is not simply opposition to a single project. It is a larger question about a model of development in which local communities feel excluded from decisions that will fundamentally reshape their lives.

The forests around Kathara have become the site of an extraordinary civic vigil. Villagers gather at the sound of traditional drums. Women, elderly residents, and young people take turns guarding the forest day and night, despite temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Their fear is that soil testing and surveys may ultimately pave the way for land acquisition.

When citizens are compelled to stand guard over their own land in a democracy, the issue transcends administrative procedure. It becomes a reflection of a widening trust deficit between the state and its people.

The government's argument, however, also deserves careful consideration. Bihar's economy is changing rapidly. Industrial activity is expanding, urbanisation is accelerating, and electricity demand continues to rise. The state's peak power requirement, currently around 8,000 MW, is projected to approach 10,000 MW in the coming years. Even today, Bihar depends heavily on imported electricity and thermal power to meet its needs.

Against this backdrop, the state's first nuclear power plant has been proposed, with plans to establish two 700 MW reactors in the initial phase. The government argues that the project will strengthen Bihar's long-term energy security, attract industrial investment, and help meet future electricity demand.

Few would dispute Bihar's need for reliable energy. The real question is the price at which that energy will be secured.

In official records, land is represented by survey numbers and revenue entries. For a farmer, however, the same piece of land is a bank, an insurance policy, a source of employment, and a symbol of dignity.

Villagers claim that nearly 1,400 acres have been identified for the project, including forest land, government land, and privately owned agricultural land. The administration maintains that only government land is currently being considered for preliminary surveys and that no action is being taken regarding private land. This is precisely where transparent dialogue becomes essential.

Land acquisition is never merely about compensation. Losing farmland often means losing economic independence. The displacement of a village means the fragmentation of generations of shared memories, social relationships, and cultural identity.

As an agrarian state, Bihar depends heavily on agriculture for livelihoods. At a time when India faces growing food security challenges due to climate change, erratic rainfall, and declining groundwater levels, converting fertile agricultural land into large industrial or infrastructure projects raises concerns that extend well beyond the affected villages. Such changes can influence food production, rural economies, and the country's long-term food security.

India must strive not only for energy security but also for food security. Protecting productive agricultural land should therefore remain an important element of national policy.

For tribal communities, forests are not merely a source of timber. They provide fuel, fodder, medicinal plants, and sustain cultural traditions that have evolved over generations. When forests disappear, it is not only trees that are lost; an entire way of life is placed at risk.

Any major development project should therefore be assessed not only in terms of economic returns but also for its social, cultural, and environmental consequences.

Nuclear energy is widely regarded as one of the significant achievements of modern science, and many countries rely on it for a substantial share of their electricity. At the same time, history demonstrates that safety must remain the highest priority. The disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima serve as enduring reminders that there can be no compromise on technological safeguards, transparency, or disaster preparedness.

Public concerns should therefore be addressed through scientific evidence rather than assurances alone. Environmental Impact Assessments, safety standards, water-use plans, waste management strategies, and emergency preparedness measures should all be made publicly available. Open public hearings and independent expert assessments are essential for building confidence.

India's experience with large dams, mining projects, and industrial corridors has already displaced millions of people. Numerous studies have shown that even when financial compensation is provided, many displaced families never regain their previous economic or social standing.

The value of land cannot be determined solely by market prices. Its true worth is understood by the farmer who has cultivated it alongside generations of family members, or by the tribal resident whose childhood memories are rooted in the surrounding forests.

An equally important question is whether Bihar has fully explored all available energy alternatives. The state possesses enormous potential for solar power, agricultural solar installations, canal-top solar projects, biomass, and decentralised renewable energy systems. Greater investment in these sectors could reduce both land acquisition and displacement.

This is not a debate between nuclear and solar power. It is a debate about achieving balance in energy policy.

Meetings held in Raghunathpur Panchayat have brought together farmers' organisations, civil society groups, and political parties, demonstrating that the issue has already expanded beyond local boundaries. At the same time, the administration continues to insist that the project remains at a preliminary stage and that villagers' concerns will be addressed.

This is precisely the moment when dialogue should replace confrontation. The greatest strength of a democracy lies in making decisions with people, not imposing them upon them.

Bihar undoubtedly needs more electricity, greater industrialisation, and better employment opportunities. But it must also preserve its fertile fields, forests, water resources, and villages. If the light of development extinguishes a farmer's livelihood, erases a tribal community's identity, or destroys the memories embedded in a village landscape, then that development remains fundamentally incomplete.

The government must ensure that scientific transparency, rigorous social impact assessments, impartial public consultations, and dignified rehabilitation become integral parts of the project rather than procedural formalities. Likewise, those opposing the project should continue to present their concerns through constitutional means, factual evidence, and democratic engagement.

Today, the land of Banka is waiting for more than a nuclear power plant. It is asking whether twenty-first-century India can pursue a path of development where megawatts increase without diminishing humanity; where industry grows while farms remain fertile; where scientific progress advances alongside public trust.

That is the question Raghunathpur is asking today. Before long, it may become a question that all of Bihar—and indeed the nation—must answer.

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*Independent journalist for the last 30 years, publications in various newspapers and magazines of the country