(a) whether Nuclear Power Corporation`s selection panel has selected any site in Punjab for setting up of nuclear power plant;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether villagers are agitating against the site selection;
(d) if so, the demands of the villagers; and
(e) the reaction of the Government thereto?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY (SMT. VASUNDHARA RAJE)
(a)&(b) No, Sir. However, in the context of the on-going process
of evaluation of the sites in Northern Electricity Region,
by the Site Selection Committee constituted by Department
of Atomic Energy, a nodal agency has been nominated by the
Punjab Government for collecting and updating of the site
data at Darouli Village near Patran in Samana Tehsil of
Patiala District from that state. Setting up of a Nuclear
Power Plant in any region will however depend upon the
energy alternatives available to a region, availability
of funds to set up the plant, techno-economic considera-
tions and availability of suitable sites.
(c),(d)& (e)The concern of the villagers appear to be on the land
acquisition and rehabilitation package if a decision is
taken to set up a plant. It is premature at this stage,
to give the Government`s reaction on this subject until
site investigations are completed and a decision is
taken for setting up a project.