📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Editminister
Science
Villagers in Rewa's Sirmaur Block Return Survey Drills, Vow to Block 28,000-Crore Nuclear Plant
✍️ Amar Ujala · Bhopal
🗓 08 Oct 2026, 07:15 AM
👁 7
Residents of Sirmaur in Rewa district have sent back drilling equipment used for land surveys and declared they will not allow the proposed 28,000‑crore nuclear power project to proceed.
The Madhya Pradesh government’s plan to set up a nuclear power plant worth roughly 28,000 crore rupees in the Sirmaur area of Rewa district has met with fierce resistance from local villagers. Over the past weeks, protestors have intensified their actions, most recently returning the drilling rigs that were deployed to conduct land‑survey work for the project.
Village elders and community members gathered at the survey sites, inspected the equipment and handed it back to the officials, stating that while they are willing to forgo any benefits promised under development schemes, they will not permit the nuclear facility to be built on their land.
The protest reflects deep concerns over safety, displacement and environmental impact. Residents have repeatedly demanded a transparent assessment of the plant’s risks and have called for alternative development options that do not threaten their livelihoods.
Authorities have not yet issued a formal response to the villagers’ latest move, and the project’s timeline remains uncertain as the state reviews the growing opposition.
The episode underscores the broader challenges of implementing large‑scale energy infrastructure in rural India, where community consent is increasingly being positioned as a critical factor.
Village elders and community members gathered at the survey sites, inspected the equipment and handed it back to the officials, stating that while they are willing to forgo any benefits promised under development schemes, they will not permit the nuclear facility to be built on their land.
The protest reflects deep concerns over safety, displacement and environmental impact. Residents have repeatedly demanded a transparent assessment of the plant’s risks and have called for alternative development options that do not threaten their livelihoods.
Authorities have not yet issued a formal response to the villagers’ latest move, and the project’s timeline remains uncertain as the state reviews the growing opposition.
The episode underscores the broader challenges of implementing large‑scale energy infrastructure in rural India, where community consent is increasingly being positioned as a critical factor.