The first thing that strikes the visitor to Jaitapur-Madban in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district, about 400 kilometres from Mumbai, is the sheer beauty of the place, lush with varying shades of green, and with a spectacular view of mountains, valleys, plateaus, lagoons and creeks, besides orchards and farmlands. The second thing that strikes you is the profusion of posters, banners and slogans which say “Areva Go Back†, “NO to Nuclear Power†and “Radiation Kills†in Marathi. This is planned to be the world’s largest nuclear power station. The project will occupy over 968 hectares in five villages—Madban, Niveli, Karel, Mithgavane and Varliwada. It will affect the livelihoods of some 40,000 people, including farmers, horticulturists, fisherfolk, agricultural workers, loaders, transporters, traders, street-vendors, and providers of many other services.
NPCIL officials claim that two-thirds of the land being acquired by the project is “barren†and “unproductive†, and will displace no one. Nothing could be farther from the truth observed by one’s naked eyes.