The Government has strongly defended its decision to set up a nuclear power plant at Jaitapur in Maharashtra. In a press release today, the Department of Atomic Energy said that the project was sanctioned only after it was found that it met all suitability criteria. The Site Selection committee had assessed all aspects of the Plant and recommended its suitability. The criteria considered include availability of land, population density, cooling water sources and environment. The release emphasized that the Jaitapur site is not considered earthquake prone and there is no seismic activity found within thirty kilometers from the site. All safety guidelines based on International Atomic Energy agencies regulations were strictly adhered to. The release says there will be no adverse effect on environment, health, and life of people though air, sea and land because of the operation of the plant. It enlisted numerous benefits of the projects including development of nearby areas, employment opportunities and boosting of power generation. The release says the fresh water requirement will be met from a desalination plant set up by Nuclear Power Corporation of India.