Ongole: The Centre is likely to shift the proposed 6,000 MW nuclear power plant that was to be set up at Haripur in West Bengal, to a location between Prakasam and Nellore districts.
The West Bengal government has refused to have the plant following protests against land acquisition. The nuclear power plant is proposed to be set up in collaboration with Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear power equipment and service giant.
A sufficient extent of government land is available along the shore between Prakasam and Nellore districts in AP.
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India feels that this is a better place to set up the plant. Corporation officials said the nuclear power plant would not affect existing installations in both districts.
NPCIL director, chief engineer G.V.Ramesh, who is also chief engineer of Kovvada nuclear power plant, said, “The Centre is likely to shift the plant to the seashore between Prakasam and Nellore districts because it is suitable place.”
If it comes through, this would be the second nuclear plant in the state after the one at Kovvada. AP will also get a unit of the Nuclear Fuel Complex at Kurnool. There are proposals to mine uranium, a nuclear fuel, in Rayalaseema.
