In order to set up a nuclear power plant at Kovvada in Srikakulam district, social impact assessment (SIA) study will be carried out by next week.

After SIA study is completed, an expert committee will be formed by district administration of Srikakulam and also a draft report will be prepared. The expert committee comprises social scientists, district administration and representatives from the village.

For the proposed Kovvada plant, the Westinghouse Electric Company is expected to supply six AP-1000 nuclear reactors with a total generation capacity of around 6600 MW.

According to a Times of India report, “After the expert committee submits the SIA study, the state government will take a decision on the project. If it approves the project, then the land acquisition process will begin,“ a Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited source said.

Responding to a query in the Rajya Sabha recently, Union minister of state for personnel, public grievances and pensions and PMO, Jitendra Singh, said, “Social Impact Assessment (SIA) study has been taken up and notification for the same has been issued by the state government. The commissioner, rehabilitation & resettlement (R&R), Government of Andhra Pradesh, has identified Environment Protection Training & Research Institute (EPTRI), Hyderabad as the SIA team.”

He also talked about survey of land for nuclear plant at Kovvada. “The land proposed to be acquired for the project comprises 599.20 acres of private land, 791.37 acres of government land and 683.94 acres of assigned land totaling 2074.51acres.”