Speaking
at a function at the nuclear plant project on Saturday, where he faced stiffed
opposition from protesting farmers, Chavan alleged that a European person was
furnishing wrong information about the project to the local residents and
misleading them. However, Chavan avoided more details about the European
person.
Chavan
further said: "Leaflets and pictures containing wrong information was
being distributed so that the state cannot progress. Screening of video clips
of a incident in a different state was being shown to the people and thus
creating fears in the minds of the people about the Jaitapur nuclear plant
project.
"A
lot of energy would be produced at the plant with extremely secure technology,
and some residents would have to migrate. But the government would rehabilitate
them properly. Because of the project entire Maharashtra along with Konkan would
benefit economically," Chavan added.
Chavan
during his first visit to the plant along with state Industries Minister
Narayan Rane, sought to ally the fears of the local residents about any danger
from the nuclear plant. Chavan and Rane dismissed the opposition to the project
as "misconception and politically motivated," fueled by external
forces hostile to the project. The chief minister alleged that some external
powers did not wish India to develop, though he did not name who these external
powers were.
"Despite
the attempts of some external powers to sabotage the project by provoking the
people, but India will overcome that. The people should not be swayed by the
external and internal powers, though the people may have different views but
then they should not be influenced by misconceptions and wrong
information," Chavan told the large gathering in his speech.
