Mithi Virdi Nuclear Power Project 2007: From Vision To Resistance

Policy Update
Tanmyi Anthwal

In Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district, where the salty winds of the Gulf of Khambhat carry the scent of ripe mangoes and fresh-cut fodder, lies the story of a village that stood its ground against one of the world’s most powerful energy ambitions.

The proposed 6000 MW Mithi Virdi Nuclear Power Project, once seen as a crown jewel of India-US energy cooperation, promised much on paper: clean energy, strategic diplomacy, and economic growth. But for the people of Jaspara, Mithi Virdi, Khadpar, Mandva, and Sosiya, it asked for too much in return for their land, their livelihoods, their way of life.

Figure 1

Background

The Mithi Virdi Nuclear Power Project, originally proposed in 2007 in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, was envisioned as a flagship initiative to bolster India’s nuclear energy capacity. Signed by the Gujarat government, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, and Toshiba Corp’s Westinghouse Electric Company at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, the project was considered a big boost to the economic and strategic relationship between India and the United States. The project aimed to install six 1000 MW light water reactors supplied by Westinghouse Electric Company (a US-based firm), totaling 6,000 MW of clean energy generation.

India’s nuclear expansions are part of a long-term strategy to reduce dependency on coal and achieve energy security through cleaner sources. The country’s installed nuclear power capacity, currently at 7,480 MW in 2020, is projected to rise to 22,480 MW by 2031-32.

The graph below highlights India’s steady growth in nuclear capacity over the years, reflecting its commitment to a diversified and low-carbon energy mix.

Figure 2

The project was a symbol of Indo-US cooperation, especially after the landmark nuclear liability agreements were finalized during former US President Barack Obama’s 2015 visit. Gujarat was to benefit from this project economically and strategically, with potential spillovers in industrial growth and employment.

However, the project required the surrender of approximately 777 hectares, of which 670 hectares were fertile agricultural lands, supporting multiple cropping cycles and local livelihoods. Villages like Mithivirdi, Jaspara, Khadpar, and Mandva raised strong opposition based on concerns over land acquisition, environmental safety, and the absence of proper rehabilitation plans. This resistance, coupled with procedural and ecological problems, led to delays and ultimately, the decision to relocate the project to Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh by 2018.

Functioning

The following were established as the requirements for this project to run:

Producing Clean Electricity through Nuclear Reactions: The Mithi Virdi Nuclear Power Project was planned to generate electricity through nuclear fission, where uranium atoms are split to release energy. The heat produced from this process would create steam to drive turbines, producing large amounts of clean and low-carbon electricity to help meet India’s growing energy needs.
Using Seawater for Cooling: Situated near the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat, the project was designed to use seawater to cool its reactors. This cooling system would help maintain stable and safe operations while conserving freshwater, which is limited in the region.
Advanced Safety Systems: The proposed plant included strong safety measures, such as containment domes, emergency cooling systems, and radiation monitoring. These were designed to protect people and the environment, following safety standards set by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Providing a Steady, Low-Carbon Power Source: Mithi Virdi aimed to contribute to India’s energy security by providing reliable, low-emission electricity. It was part of a broader vision to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and support cleaner energy options alongside renewables like solar and wind.
Operating as a Base-Load Power Station: As a base-load power station, the plant was intended to run continuously and supply steady electricity regardless of weather conditions. This would ensure a stable and dependable power supply for households, industries, and infrastructure across the region.

The power plant was planned to be completed in three stages:

Stages	Completion of Units	Expected Year of Completion
First Stage	Two Units	2019-20
Second Stage	Additional Two Units	2021-22
Third Stage	Completion of the last two units	2020-23

Performance

The project never moved beyond the planning stage. Despite years of surveys, feasibility studies, and diplomatic enthusiasm, construction never began. The story of the Mithi Virdi Nuclear Power Project is not one of failed technology but of human conviction.

After a decade-long battle, the government formally shifted the project out of Gujarat in 2017. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in a letter to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) dated 27 March 2017, intimated that the Mithi Virdi site “is being shifted on account of delay in land acquisition.” The NGT order of 18 May 2017 acknowledged this shift, marking an official end to the Gujarat chapter of the project.

That “delay” was, in reality, the reflection of a sustained and peaceful resistance. The state government itself admitted to the complexity of the situation. Various meetings were held between the Gujarat government and the Union government to resolve land acquisition challenges, but no agreement emerged.

The first signs of unrest appeared during the public hearing on 5 March 2013, when villagers walked out in masses, rejecting the process as unfair and exclusionary. Their objections, 47 written representations, according to local accounts, were left unheard. Later, on 3 March 2015, residents approached the NGT challenging the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance granted to NPCIL.

Despite limited outreach attempts and small developmental activities around the area, the project could never secure social legitimacy. The outcome was inevitable: the Mithi Virdi nuclear dream was quietly relocated to Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh, where land acquisition was comparatively easier and public resistance less organised.

Impact

The relocation of Mithi Virdi did not merely mark the end of a project; it became a turning point in how India’s energy future intersects with local democracy.

At the national level, it marked a moment of pause in India’s ambitious nuclear expansion plan that had taken shape under the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement. The project was meant to represent a partnership of trust and technology between the two countries, but its derailment revealed a growing distance between national energy ambitions and the consent of local communities. Across India, people in other regions too had raised their voices against similar projects, in places like Jaitapur in Maharashtra and Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu. Together, these movements showed that the nuclear debate in India was no longer just about technology and engineering, but about ethics, safety, and the rights of people to decide their own future.

For Gujarat’s energy policy, the lesson was sobering but instructive. While the Mithi Virdi project was shelved, the state continues to play a pivotal role in India’s clean-energy transition. In 2025, following directions from the central government, the Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited (GSECL) was tasked with conducting a fresh feasibility study to identify new potential sites for nuclear projects. This cautious revival reflects a broader learning curve; future initiatives will need to integrate environmental assessment, transparent dialogue, and genuine consent from the outset.

Conclusion

The Mithi Virdi experience encapsulates the complex intersection of technological ambition, environmental responsibility, and social legitimacy in India’s energy policy landscape. Envisioned as a landmark project under the Indo–US Civil Nuclear Agreement, it was intended to mark India’s entry into a new era of international nuclear cooperation. Yet, its relocation in 2017 revealed that infrastructure development, no matter how strategic, cannot advance without the confidence and consent of affected communities.

For policymakers, the Mithi Virdi episode serves as a valuable case study in participatory governance. It underscores that energy transitions must move beyond engineering blueprints to embrace transparent dialogue, inclusive consultation, and livelihood-sensitive rehabilitation frameworks. Local resistance here was not opposition to progress, but a collective plea for justice, safety, and sustainability principles that are central to a democratic developmental model.

As Gujarat revisits the possibility of new nuclear installations, the state and central governments have an opportunity to institutionalise these lessons. Integrating robust environmental assessment, stakeholder engagement, and community-centred planning can ensure that future projects align both with India’s clean energy goals and with the aspirations of its citizens. The Mithi Virdi journey thus stands as a quiet yet powerful testament: true progress is achieved not when technology prevails over people, but when it progresses with them.