Friday 21 October 2011

The film "3 miles to Gorakhpur" is about an anti nuclear protest in Haryana, India

The Hindu   NEW DELHI, October 21, 2011

Gorakhpur Village's protest against nuclear power plant 3 Mile away
Staff Reporter

Protesting against the proposed nuclear power plant at Gorakhpur village in Haryana, a group people associated with the struggle on Thursday gathered at the Indian Social Institute in Lodhi Road for the screening of a film 3 Mile to Gorakhpur and a discussion on the issue.

“A majority of villagers of Gorakhpur are opposed to the proposed nuclear power plant because it will come up in a densely populated area with over 20,000 people. The Government is planning to acquire 1,305 acres here and about 185 acres in the adjoining Badopala village. People in these villages and nearby areas are afraid of any possible nuclear radiation or related accidents,” said Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha national convenor Soumya Dutta who has been associated with the protest.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd, which had proposed the building of the plant, had sent notices to the villagers last year informing them about land acquisition. Opposing this move, lead by Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, farmers from the villages of Gorakhpur, Badopala and nearby villages are participating in a sit-in dharna which started on August 17 last year shortly after the land acquisition notices were sent.

Highlighting the issue

“While the villagers are not ready to give in, the Government too has to understand that this is a very fertile land that they are planning to take over. They will also be using the only water source for the plant that will eat into the villagers' water source which is used for drinking and irrigation,” added Mr. Dutta.

“The villagers have been protesting against the plant for the past fifteen months. Most women here are very attached to their land. Most of them say that the money the men will get will be spent and the families will suffer. Most say that they will not sell their land. The idea of bringing the film and discussion to Delhi is to highlight the issue and generate more public discussion,” said Mr. Dutta.
SOUTH ASIANS AGAINST NUKES (SAAN):

An informal information platform for activists and scholars concerned about the dangers of Nuclearisation in South Asia

http://s-asians-against-nukes.org/



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