India to construct nuclear plant in Haryana

Meanwhile, the government emphasised the importance of the Jaitapur project.

India has announced plans to build North India's first nuclear project in Gorakhpur, Haryana.

According to the Department of Atomic Energy, this was announced by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh in the Lok Sabha whilst reaffirming the government’s commitment to the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project.

He also clarified that environmental clearance for the Jaitapur project is under renewal and that necessary safeguards are in place to address ecological and safety concerns.

The minister explained that initial approvals were given in 2008, but delays occurred due to shifts in agreements with French stakeholders. With technical agreements now finalised, discussions are ongoing to settle commercial terms with the partners.

Once operational, the Jaitapur plant will house six nuclear reactors, each with a capacity of 1,730 megawatts (MW), totaling 10,380 MW. It will account for 10% of India’s 100 gigawatt nuclear energy target by 2047.

An insurance pool of INR1,500 crore has been set up, with additional commitments from the government if required. Furthermore, India has aligned with global compensation mechanisms to ensure financial security in case of an incident.