Press release - April 26, 2011
Mumbai, April 26, 2011: On the occasion of 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, Greenpeace today delivered around 13,000 petitions against the proposed Jaitapur nuclear project to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Prithviraj Chavan’s Private Secretary Abhijeet Godbole received the petitions from a team of Greenpeace activists.
The petitions were collected through an online mailer which was sent out on the 21st of April, two days after the violence in Jaitapur which left one dead and several others injured (1).
“The fact that nuclear technology is inherently dangerous is evident now more than ever. It’s time that the government answers the concerns of its citizens rather than use force to brutally curb them” said Karuna Raina, Nuclear and Energy Campaigner from Greenpeace India.
“A nuclear disaster is an accident waiting to happen. Chernobyl and Fukushima are clear examples of how governments have lied to their own people. Despite more than 50 years of research and development, nuclear technology remains inherently dangerous and poses a huge risk. These petitions gathered by Greenpeace are the voices of Indian citizens which the government must not ignore”, said Anand Patwardhan, documentary film maker and a social activist.
Greenpeace also invited Prithvraj Chavan and members from the NPCIL to attend an exhibition at Piramal gallery, NCPA. The exhibition showcases photographs of victims from the Chernobyl nuclear accident taken by Robert Knoth. It was inaugurated on the 24th of April by Tushar Gandhi and will end on the 29th April 2011.
Note to the Editor –
1- http://green.yahoo.com/news/afp/20110418/wl_asia_afp/indianuclearenergyprotest.html
Contact –
Karuna Raina: Nuclear and Energy Campaigner – Greenpeace India, +91 9901799669, 
Hozefa Merchant: Media Officer – Greenpeace India, +91 9819592410, 
Photo and Video:
Sudanshu Malhotra: Photodesk Incharge: +91 9810058019, 
Areeb Hashmi: Videodesk Incharge: +91 9999246267, 