Will nuclear plant dislocate them again?

By Sarabjit Pandher

DARAULI (PATIALA), APRIL 7. The proposal of the Union as well as State Governments to set up a nuclear power plant in this village, located in the southern parts constituting the backwaters of Punjab, has created panic among the people. The people shudder at the thought of being dislocated once again since the Partition when as refugees they came to settle here from what is now Pakistan.

The site for the nuclear power plant to be set up here is said to have been surveyed way back in 1980-81. Then the people of this and the surrounding villages as well as nearby hamlets were eager to give up their land for the projects and receive compensation. Then barren sand dunes or large stretches of wasteland marked the area. But for undisclosed reasons, the authorities never returned to the site, which made the villagers assume that the proposal to set up the plant here was shelved.

Through hard labour and major investments, the farmers of this village and surrounding villages transformed the region into lush fields. The village claims to have 300 acres under cultivation of tomatoes and peas alone, while the farmers claim record yield in wheat, paddy and sugarcane. They say, as the region has never been hit by natural calamities such as floods and earthquakes, it attracted the attention of the authorities to set up the project, which might bring along with it various hazards.

When the a team of experts arrived on the scene once again, early this year, to take samples of the soil and water, as well as marking out some areas, the people realised the proposal which they thought had been shelved was on again. Their fears were confirmed by local officials of the state electricity board and they could foresee an imminent catastrophe for themselves, when Atomic Energy Commission officials conducted about two dozen residents of the area, for an ``on-the-site study and awareness'' tour to the nuclear plant at Narora in Uttar Pradesh.

Mr. Amrik Singh, who was taken to Narora, told The Hindu that it was after they threatened to quit the sponsored tour, were they allowed to meet the people living in the vicinity of the Narora plant. He narrated a sequence of events where the people living in the close vicinity of the plant expressed helpless to say anything as they had ``orders'' to that effect from the authorities, but those living slightly more distant narrated details of misery and hardships. ``The pregnant women there are sent away, while the farm and dairy produce is tested every day for radioactivity and there are a host of sociological and economic problems, some of which we have already begun to face,'' he says, claiming that contaminated produce is destroyed after paying nominal compensation to the farmers for no fault of theirs.

The 70-year-old Kapur Singh Rara, who came here from Sheikhupura district, now in Pakistan, recalls the hardships his family had to face to ensure a decent living. He threatens to resort to any extreme measure. ``Why does Mr. Parkash Singh Badal not take this plant to his own village and ensure the development of his constituency, Lambi? Let them shoot me or throw us in the Bhakhra Canal - I will oppose my relocation,'' he said banging his staff angrily into the ground.

According to Mr. Buta Singh who is the Nambardar, and settled here after migrating from Gujjaranwala district, this village now has two Panchayats and has a population of about 5000. He says that in case the project is set up it would affect a population of not less than 50,000 in 25 nearby villages, which have been identified by the State Government, as well. He says most of the people are opposed to the proposal of setting up the plant here. He articulates wide-ranging fears of the people, while the rumour mill is also working full steam.

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