Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh against the backdrop of growing concern over the opposition by locals to the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power project.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh was also present at the meeting.

The meeting comes close on the heels of Chavan deliberating threadbare on the Jaitapur issue with his deputy Ajit Pawar, home minister R R Patil and industries minister Narayan Rane in Mumbai.

The state leaders are keen to know the Centre's mind on the 9,900 MW nuclear power project in the background of strong opposition by locals and death of a protester last week in police firing.

State government sources have already made it known that further decision on the project would take place only after discussions with the centre.

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N-power option should be based on science, not emotion: Saiki

Future appropriateness of nuclear power policy by any country should be based on science and not on emotions in the wake of Fukushima nuclear accident following severe earthquake and unprecedented tsunami last month, a top Japanese diplomat said.

"Experts from all the countries should sit and share their experiences for the future choice of nuclear power scientifically," Ambassador to India, Akitaka Saiki said here while interacting with the citizens of Mumbai at the Observer Research Foundation last evening.

"The failure of Fukushima -- we have to look at it scientifically and not emotionally," he said adding "we have 54 reactors all located along the coast. If we have to shift these to some heights, we need to find easy access to water supply which is very essential."

Japan was always prepared for earthquakes and tsunami but not to this unprecedented level, said Saiki, who is on a three-day visit to Mumbai to interact with Indian industry leaders to promote trade and commerce between the two countries.

"We have been able to offer quality reactors but if needed our scientists and engineers will have no hesitation to learn from other countries," he added.

Saiki said the six reactors in Fukushima Daiichi, that accounted for 10 per cent of the electricity in Japan, will have to be decommissioned and added that alternate arrangement of power supply needed to be done.