With the resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) package for the locals displaced by the proposed nuclear power plant at Kovvada in its final stages, officials indicate that the final package will have best features of the latest Land Acquisition Act.

The ministry of environment has directed the Nuclear Power Corpora-tion of India Limited to conduct fresh R&R surveys in the wake of opposition by locals after the survey report was submitted in July last year.

“We are giving finishing touches to the final R&R package currently. The final draft is being prepared and it will be submitted for approval. We are taking the best features of the proposed Land Acquisition Act that is currently in the Parliament. Also, our previous experience of land acquisition work in Jaitapur in Maharashtra and key features of the AP State Land Acquisition Act have been put together in shaping the package,” said a senior official associated with the project.

Incidentally, around 1500 families are estimated to be affected by the proposed Kovvada nuclear power project.

The NPCIL plans to build an R&R township close to plant.

The township will house displaced families and have facilities like schools, hospitals and other infrastructure.