Ex-judge’s comment on Jaitapur N-plant unscientific: Ramesh

May 23rd, 2011 - 5:54 pm ICT by IANS  

New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh Monday termed “unscientific and disappointing” former Delhi High Court chief justice A.P. Shah’s statement that Jaitapur nuclear power project in Maharashtra would be a catastrophe if all safety concerns were not addressed.

“It is very much an unscientific approach to a scientific matter. I am very disappointed with Justice Shah’s statement,” Ramesh told reporters here.

Shah during a public hearing on the safety, viability and cost efficiency of nuclear energy in Chennai Saturday said the Jaitapur project would be a catastrophe if all the safety concerns were not addressed.

Justice Shah, who is heading a two-judge people’s tribunal along with Justice S.D. Pandit, said: “Enron was only a financial disaster, but this (Jaitapur project) would be a catastrophe. Unfortunately, there is no public debate in the country. Everything is hush-hush.”

Shah was appalled after it was pointed out that there was no safety study conducted by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC).

“There is a clear failure of undertaking a safety study. The EAC should ask for another Environment Impact Assessment (EIA),” he added.

People in Jaitapur have been protesting against the 9,900-MW nuclear power plant saying it will affect the environment.

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