Hindu has reported on the energy minister Mr. S. N. Patro’s statement regarding the location identified by the central government for a nuclear plant in Orissa. Following are excerpts.

The Centre has identified a site in Orissa’s Ganjam district for setting up of a 6000 MW nuclear power plant, …

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) has identified Pati Sonapur under Chikiti block where the plant can be established, …

Official sources said if the NPCIL’s proposal of setting up the nuclear power plant materialised, it would be the largest such generation unit in the country.

Though there are 17 nuclear power plants operating in the country, none matches the capacity of the proposed project.

While a total of 4120 mw of power is being generated by all units, the proposed plant alone would produce 6000 mw of power.

Sources said the 17 nuclear power stations are located in six states. While four units each are located in Maharastra and Rajasthan, three are in Karnataka. Two units each are in Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

The minister said the NPCIL has already proposed drilling six borewells to reconfirm suitability for the project.