Bhubaneswar: Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has opposed the proposal of a private company to set up nuclear power plants in Odisha. The regional party also sought an explanation from the Centre and the state government over the privatization of nuclear energy sector.

“A proposal has been made by a private company to establish nuclear power plants in Odisha. Representatives of the company recently met Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and held discussions regarding the proposal. While there is a plan to establish nuclear power plants in the state, the BJP government has also planned to privatise the nuclear energy sector,” said BJD leader Lekhashree Samantsinghar in a presser in the capital city here today.

According to the BJD leader, the establishment of nuclear power plants in Odisha would pose a serious threat to the health and safety of the people of the state. “The BJP government, driven by its inclination towards private companies, has completely ignored the safety and security of the people of the state,” she alleged.

Samantsinghar cited the instances of explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine in 1986 and a similar disaster at a nuclear power plant at Fukushima in Japan in 2011 while opposing the establishment of any such plant in Odisha. 

Private firm moved proposal to set up two 3,000 MW nuclear power plants

“Nuclear energy is inherently hazardous and carries a significant risk to human life. In most countries, nuclear energy remains under government ownership and control, and no private entity is entrusted with its ownership. However, under the BJP government, this long-standing principle is being altered by transferring nuclear energy into the hands of private companies,” stated the BJD leader.

The BJD leader claimed that the Central government passed a new law in Parliament in December 2025, paving the way for handing over the nuclear energy sector to private companies.

The Naveen Patnaik-led party has urged the BJP government in Odisha to refrain from establishing nuclear power plants in Odisha. The party also threatened to launch an agitation over the issue. 

“The state government must explain why the nuclear power plants are being established in Odisha and why the sector is being privatized,” said the BJD leader. 

It is worth mentioning here that the private company has recently moved a proposal before the state government to establish two 3,000 MW nuclear power plants in Odisha.