AEC yet to select site for Bengal nuke plant

A base-line study for the n-power plant is now being carried out, Banerjee told newsmen here. He, however, declined to specify as to when the ongoing “base-line” study would be completed.

“The basic site selection process for the plant is complete, but the exact site selection has not so far been completed. Presently, a base-line study is going on,”  Banerjee said.
Asked about the safety measures for the nuclear plant, he said there would be an “exclusion zone” with a radius of one km from the exact site of the plant in which human habitation would be limited.

“Earlier, the required area for the exclusion zone had around 1.6 km radius from the plant, but now, because of safer technology, the radius has come down to one km,” Banerjee added.

The nuclear power plant has become a bone of contention after the people of Haripur, a coastal village of East Midnapore, claimed that the plant is being thrust upon them and their land is being “forcibly taken away” to facilitate construction of the plant.
The Trinamool Congress, which is opposed to the plant, has been backing the farmers’ contention and has vowed to intensify the agitation against it.
According to AEC sources, the plant is expected to have a total installed capacity of 10,000 MW and at least one thousand acres will have to be acquired for the proposed plant in the first phase alone.

Banerjee said the Centre and the West Bengal government have currently been engaged in talks for setting up of an energy park in the state.
“The exact location of the park has not been finalised. First, we have to conduct a site selection process and then base-line study to determine how habitation would be affected for the proposed park. Studies on food intake and education system of the local people will also be carried out,” he added.