Anti-Jaitapur nuclear project protest in fishing boats

In a unique protest, thousands of fisherfolk aboard boats sailed towards the proposed site of Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP) here, organisers said on Friday.

Sailing from a distance of around three km from the sea, over 300 boats with around 50 fisherfolk each carried banners and placards proclaiming 'No more Hiroshima', 'No more Fukushima' topped with black flags, said Jan Hakka Samiti president Mansur Solkar.

"The fishermen raised slogans and sailed right upto the sea boundary of the JNPP at the Sakhri-Nate site, while the women fisherfolk demonstrated on the shore," Solkar told IANS from the protest site.

The Shiv Sena has supported local villagers and fisherfolk who are opposing the JNPP but the party representatives or elected leaders were not present at Friday's protests, said another anti-JNPP activist Vaishali Patil.

Earlier this week, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made it clear that the JNPP would be implemented at all costs since it has reached a stage of no return.

Amjad Borkar, another leader of fisherman community, disputed the government's claims, saying so far only land has been acquired and a boundary wall has been created.

"It has not reached a stage of no-return as said by the CM... There is still time to do a rethink," Borkar told media persons.

The 9,900 MW JNPP, coming up in Madban village nearby, is being implemented by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd in collaboration with the French company Areva.

The plan includes constructing six reactors of 1650 MW each which will make it the world's largest nuclear power generation project. - IANS