Fertiliser min to oppose planned move to give priority to power sector

The oil ministry’s intent to give priority to the power sector for allocation of gas has raised an alarm in the fertiliser ministry. Sources have indicated that the fertiliser ministry will strongly oppose the move when oil ministry circulates the a note on gas allocation for approval of the empowered group of ministers’ (EGoM). It is also likely to seek higher priority for the fertliser sector so that benefits of cheaper fuel reach the country’s farming community.

Kolhapur: A fresh study of the earthquake-prone areas in the Koyna-Warna reservoir area is under way. A team of scientists from the CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, has arrived here and is expected to study the areas where seismic activity has been prevalent at low or medium intensity.

The scientists will use the Airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and photographic data acquisition and processing system for geomorphological and structural studies. The one-month study will focus on the tectonic activities around the Warna and Koyna dams.

French President Francois Hollande today discussed the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power plant, under the Indo-French civil nuclear partnership, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The $10-billion Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft deal was also discussed. The aircraft are manufactured by French firm Dassault Aviation

This is Hollande’s first official visit to an Asian country since he was elected President of France last year. “This demonstrates the importance of this relationship to our two countries

The Maharashtra government’s decision to give increased compensation to the Project-Affected People (PAP) of the proposed 9900-MW Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant (JNPP), in the backdrop of French President Francois Hollande’s visit to India, has met with serious opposition.

The farmers and fishermen fighting against the JNPP on Thursday rejected the increased compensation package declared by the government, calling it a “cruel joke.”

27,000 families in Satara on an indefinitesit-in at Koyna dam site

First, a dam, then an earthquake and finally a tiger reserve — families in Satara district’s Koyna have been displaced thrice in one generation. In 1960, the people had to move, paving the way for the Koyna dam; in 1967 following the earthquake and then for the Koyna tiger reserve in 1985, says Jagannath Vibhute, an activist of the Shramik Mukti Dal and one of the many farmers displaced by dam projects.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd ( NPCIL) and French conglomerate Areva won’t be able to exchange documents for the final works contract on the supply of two evolutionary pressurised reactors (EPRs) for the Jaitapur nuclear project in the presence of visiting French President François Hollande on Friday.

Negotiations between the two for the initial supply of two EPRs of 1,650 Mw each for the proposed 9,900-Mw project in Maharashtra have been stuck over cost and tariff.

MUMBAI: The state government's effort to break the deadlock over the Jaitapur nuclear project by hiking the compensation for the farmers has run in to a road block as it has been rejected by the villagers.

The state government had announced a revised compensation package for the farmers to acquire the land for the nuclear power plant. The state announced Rs 22.5 lakh per hectare as the rate for acquisition of land which earlier was ranged from Rs 50,000 to Rs 4 lakh per acre. The government hopes that an enhanced compensation would ensure that the villagers stop opposing the 9,900 mw nuclear project. According to government officials 2,135 farmers will benefit from the move.

To benefit about 2,300 affected people Nuclear Power Corporation reiterates readiness to spend more on relief, rehabilitation

People who stand to lose their land to the Jaitapur nuclear power project in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district are to get compensation of Rs 22.5 lakh a hectare, instead of the earlier Rs 50,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh a hectare, the state government has announced, as a “special case”.

A visit by K.

MUMBAI: The state government has approved a hefty compensation package for farmers opposing the Jaitapur nuclear power plant.

The revised package offers affected farmers Rs 22.5 lakh per hectare instead of Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakh announced earlier. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) plans to set up a 9,900 MW nuclear power plant at Jaitapur in Ratnagiri district. "The new package is much higher than the existing ready-reckoner rates. The package is lucrative and has been designed to benefit farmers. With the revised financial package, we hope that farmers protesting against the project will withdraw their agitation and part with their land," revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat told TOI.