The environmental activist group Greenpeace has started a petition campaign against the proposed nuclear energy plant at Jaitapur in Maharashtra.
It has urged its supporters to send a fax to prime minister Manmohan Singh and Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan asking them to “respect public opinion on the Jaitapur issue”.

In a group mail, supporters have also been sharing a letter from a former chief of naval staff of the Indian Navy, Admiral L. Ramdas, who writes:
“I am taking the unusual step of sending this direct request because I believe that the announcement by the PMO on the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl, to continue with the proposed French-built nuclear power park at Jaitapur, is a serious mistake with long-term implications for our people.

“Along with several others I participated in the ‘Tarapur to Jaitapur’ Yatra (march) in Maharashtra, to protest against the proposed nuclear plant in Jaitapur. We did not reach Jaitapur because many of us were detained/arrested for participating in this peaceful protest.

“It is well known that the Jaitapur nuclear plant is on an earthquake-prone zone and the French EPR reactors have not yet been tested anywhere in the world. Surprisingly the government has rejected the demands to cancel the project, which will result in the loss of land and livelihoods for many. Further, the government has shown disregard for the views of the many scientists, academics, military and other citizens from the rest of the country calling for a review of its earlier decisions on nuclear power plants.

“Apart from announcing the creation of an independent regulatory board to ensure safety standards, the government has taken no action on the widespread demand for a complete fresh review of nuclear energy policy in the country. We need to tell Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that he cannot ignore serious concerns raised by the people of this country. You should send a fax to the PM asking him to stop the Jaitapur nuclear plant.”

Campaign supporters have been requested to add their signature to the message and Greenpeace will fax it to the PM on their behalf.
Greenpeace says that 73,000 petition signatures opposing this plant have already been delivered to the PM. Now a large number of faxes asking him to stop the plant will make it difficult for him ignore the demand. Here is the weblink for thepetition:

http://greenpeace.in/take-action/stop-dangerous-nuclear-power-in-jaitapur/fax-manmohan-singh.php