Visakhapatnam: The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has accepted the fresh Terms of Reference (ToR) the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) had submitted to conduct the new Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for the nuclear power plant at Kovvada in Srikakulam district. The earlier EIA report had lapsed as per the guidelines of MoEF.
The NPCIL is now gearing up to conduct the EIA study from December first week. The environment study will be conducted during summer, winter and monsoon. After the EIA is submitted to MoEF the environmental public hearing will be held to seek the final nod to go ahead with the plant.
Meanwhile, the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) survey by the AP government in villages that are going to be affected was also completed. The state government had also issued a notification for conducting the public hearing on the SIA report.
Two weeks from now, the SIA report on the public hearing will be held.
The move came in the backdrop of GE-Hitachi showing no interest in the proposed power plant project at Kovvada though the land was offered to it.
A fresh EIA study was necessitated due to the changes in reactors rating.
