Mango Farmers, Fisherman Fight India Nuclear Plant

[marmar]

(Bloomberg) The temple for the Hindu monkey god Hanuman, near Jaitapur on the western coast of India, seems a long way from Japan’s Fukushima Dai-Ichi, where the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl continues to unfold.

For the crowd gathering amid the scent of incense and prayer lamps, the crisis is looming on their doorstep. Less than three miles away, the Indian government plans to build what would be the world’s largest nuclear-power plant and the villagers, fearing a repeat of the Japanese catastrophe, are here to protest.

Opposition to the development, to be built with Paris-based Areva SA (CEI), pits local fishermen and farmers, growers of the world’s most expensive mangoes, against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government as India struggles to bridge a power shortfall to maintain the second-fastest rate of growth among major economies. The site would generate double the power produced at Fukushima, even as that crisis prompts nations such as Germany to scale back their nuclear plans.

“After Japan, our politicians should realize that nuclear plants are not safe,” said Shobha Chavan, 40, a doctor and housewife in the nearby town of Ratnagiri. “In this region, earthquakes have happened. Businessmen and politicians want to build the plant because they want to build their bank balances.” ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-05/mango-farmers-invoke-japan-to-fight-top-india-nuclear-plant.html

[Shagbark Hickory]

1. Yeah. Nuke plant in India. GREAT idea.

:sarcasm: