Sunday, October 16, 2011

Power outages a move to force Jaitapur nuclear project: Uddhav

PTI | 05:10 PM,Oct 16,2011

Mumbai, Oct 16 (PTI) In the backdrop of prolonged load shedding in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray today dubbed the power outages as a "political move" by the Congress-NCP alliance government to impose Jaitapur nuclear power project in Maharashtra. "Yes, it can be a political move as we (Shiv Sena) are opposing the Jaitapur project. Similarly, the nuclear projects are opposed in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Even the governments there are supporting the people who are opposing the project," Udhav said. He was speaking at the formal launch of an ambitious project of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) under which a total of 161 roads in the metropolis would be made of concrete and asphalt at suburban Vikhroli here. Referring to the nuclear power plant at Haripur in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, Thackeray said, "Congress wants to impose the nuclear project in Jaitapur. But in West Bengal where they are in alliance with Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress they are not saying a word". "Congress can not dare say anything to Mamata Banerjee who is opposing the project. PM will also not say anything," he said. The BMC, ruled by Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, has been drawing a flak over a period of time for deplorable condition of roads in the metropolis. "We have promised the Mumbaikars to give them roads free of potholes. Elections keep coming. We will do more work ahead of the elections as we have promised the people. We are not going to sit quiet when criticisms are made at us. But with more enthusiasm work would be done," he said. Rejecting criticism that Shiv Sena has launched a spree of inaugurations to woo voters ahead of the BMC elections slated early next year, Uddhav said, "yes, we are doing a good work as a reason we are inaugurating it (the project) ahead of the BMC elections."

'Power cuts enforced to reduce opposition to Jaitapur plant'

Ashish Roy, TNN | Oct 16, 2011, 04.43AM IST

NAGPUR: Congress, BJP and Shiv Sena may be targeting deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar for resumption of load shedding in the state but Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Dalit icon Dr BR Ambedkar, feels that the load shedding is artificial and is being done to force people to allow the 10,000 MW Jaitapur nuclear power plant.

Addressing the media on Saturday, the BRPBMS chief said, "Maharashtra had to face four years of load shedding because of the Dabhol power plant. Now we are being subjected to unwarranted power cuts so that people stop opposing Jaitapur."

Ambedkar pointed out that Mahagenco was not lifting its share of coal from WCL. Adani had not been punished in spite of not supplying the contracted 475 MW of power. "This clearly shows that government is not interested in reducing power cuts."

BRPBMS is asking farmers, who have sustained crop damage for failure to water their fields in absence of power supply, to file compensation suits against MSEDCL and Ajit Pawar. "The ministers should wake up to the fact that they are not only responsible to the legislature but to the people as well."

Turning to the state government's textile policy, Ambedkar said that Western Maharashtra had blocked it because they realized that it will not benefit their region. "The policy was adopted to give an edge to Indian textile products over their Chinese counterparts. For this it is imperative that the distance between the cotton farm and ginning mill is minimum. Only the cotton growing districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada qualify on this count," he said.

Ambedkar reiterated that the only solution to Vidarbha's problem was statehood. "NCP is doing a covert propaganda that Hindi speakers will rule VIdarbha if it becomes a separate state. This is nonsense. Only five or six MLAs of the total 62 are Hindi speakers. I urge Vidarbha's farmers to stop believing that Sharad Pawar is their savior. NCP has always opposed the region's development."

Ambedkar went on to appeal to the Vidarbha's MLAs to emulate tribal MLAs and unite irrespective of their parties when it comes to Vidarbha. "They should put pressure on the government during the winter session. I have filed a petition in High Court pleading that only the governor should have the powers to execute development works in Vidarbha. The same is enshrined in Article 371 of the Constitution.

An officer of additional chief secretary should oversee projects in Vidarbha," said Ambedkar.

(BOX)

'Anti-Congress wave in country'

BRPBMS is not very keen on a tie up with Congress-NCP in the coming local body elections. Ambedkar feels that there is an anti-Congress wave in the country due to the series of scams and inflation. "Anna Hazare's agitation has certainly dent Congress' image," said Ambedkar.

Several Dalit intellectuals and leaders have termed Hazare's protest as an upper caste agitation. Ambedkar's full marks to Anna assumes significance in this backdrop.

He said that he was trying to persuade third front leaders to unite on a single platform and provide an alternative to Congress and not allow BJP to take advantage of the anti-Congress feeling.

"People are fed up with Congress but this does not mean that they support BJP. In the Hisar bypoll, the polling percentage was over 70% because a third front candidate is in the fray. However, in the Pune by-poll it was around 33% because the only alternative to Congress was BJP. Congress has very little chance of winning Hisar and BJP has the upper hand in Pune," he explained.

Replying to a query, Ambedkar said that Ramdas Athawale's joining hands with the BJP-Sena would not have any effect as Athawale was a spent force.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Power-cuts-enforced-to-reduce-opposition-to-Jaitapur-plant/articleshow/10372030.cms

Pawar promises to push Jaitapur plan

Sandeep Ashar, TNN | Aug 13, 2011, 03.39AM IST

MUMBAI: Four months after the nuclear tragedy in Japan's Fukushima put the state government on a backfoot over the Jaitapur nuclear plant issue, it went on the offensive on Friday.

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the energy portfolio, took the Shiv Sena, which is opposing the setting up of the plant, head-on during a special discussion in the legislative council on Friday.

Accusing the Sena for "politicizing" a development issue and "opposing the project for the sake of it", Pawar said the state government stood firmly behind the nuclear power project. "We are convinced that the project is important for the well-being of all generations. We will push the project, no matter the opposition," he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Pawar-promises-to-push-Jaitapur-plan/articleshow/9584172.cms

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"Yes, it can be a political move as we (Shiv Sena) are opposing theJaitapur project. Similarly, the nuclear projects are opposed in Tamil Nadu and West ...

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