Nuclear Power Corporation Ltd (NPCIL) has proposed a comprehensive rehabilitation package of Rs 650 crore for the proposed 10,000-Mw project in Maharashtra. The package, which awaits the state rehabilitation authority’s approval, envisages compensation of Rs 48,000 to Rs 1.60 lakh per acre of land with an assurance that NPCIL is open to increase the same taking into consideration the market trend.

The package also offers a job for a person from a project affected family (PAF) in the proposed nuclear project to be set up at Jaitapur in the coastal Ratnagiri district. If a person from a PAF fails to meet the job criteria, NPCIL proposes to train the person and later accommodate her/him in the project. Further, NPCIL has agreed to increase the cash component to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 3 lakh for the PAF if there is no suitable employment available for it.

An NPCIL official told Business Standard on condition of anonymity: “We await a speedy clearance for the rehabilitation package. Of the total 2,335 landowners, only 20 have accepted the compensation and rest are waiting. We are aware of the state government’s recent announcement asking NPCIL to rework the compensation for the land, based on market price. We are open for this suggestion, but first landowners should accept the price offered to them.” The official made it clear that the 938.26 hectares of the acquired land had not included houses or ‘gaothan’. He added that the proposed package was at a higher side compared to what it had offered in its existing projects.

Moreover, the package promises allocation of Rs 2 crore each for five project affected villages to upgrade civic amenities. Besides, Rs 25 lakh would be made available annually to these villages for the maintenance of civic amenities. Nearly 980 PAFs would be paid rehabilitation grant of Rs 75,000. In addition to this, 500 days of minimum agriculture wage would be given as rehabilitation grant to villagers whose land has been partially acquired. For small farmers, rehabilitation grant for 375 days would be given.

The NPCIL official said the locals would also be involved in the project development by offering them small work contracts.