In 2009, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) decided to establish a 1,400-megawatt nuclear power plant in Chutka village in Mandla district. Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company Limited (MPPGCL) was appointed as the nodal agency to execute the project.
After the idea for the power plant was proposed, the government allotted 16.5 hectares of land to the power company. The project is estimated to displace 70,000 people in 54 villages in the district. The plant is likely to consume 7,25,76,000 cu.m. of water every year from the reservoir, which will reduce the total water flow of the Narmada river. The people who are likely to be displaced were earlier affected and rehabilitated in Mandla by the Bargi Dam project.
Mandla district is covered under the Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, where land cannot be acquired without the consent of the Gram Sabha. The land was allotted to MPPGCL without the consent of the residents or the Gram Sabha, violating the Forest Rights Act. Village assemblies of Patha, Kundla and Tatighat rejected the government's proposal to set up the nuclear plant, and they also refused the rehabilitation plan to shift them to Potla village.
Despite the opposition, in 2015, the state government deposited money into the bank accounts of about 450 project-affected families.
In May 2017, the power plant was granted forest clearance for diversion of 119.46 hectares of forestland by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. In September 2018, when the affected people refused to share their Aadhaar details with MPPGCL for compensation as they did not want to part with their land, the company obtained the information through the banks and deposited the compensation amount directly in their accounts. Meanwhile, the residents of the affected villages have been complaining of contaminated water and environmental pollution.
Activist Medha Patkar, who is lending her voice to the cause, is quoted in a news report as saying, "Under the Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, the governor has the power to annul any law that goes against tribal interests; the government is doing the opposite." She cited a Supreme Court ruling in the case of the Omkareshwar Dam oustees to argue that "payment of compensation does not mean the affected people have accepted the terms".
In September 2019, labourers belonging to the plant developers came to the villages unannounced and started digging the ground. The residents forced the labourers to flee.
In February 2020, the Chutka Parmanu Sangarsh Samiti circulated an appeal against the plant stating their grievances. Earlier, the members of representing organisations such as the Jal, Jangal, Jameen and Jeevan met with MP Governor Lalji Tandon demanding cancellation of the project.
The struggle against the plant continued. It was reported that in 2021, the NPCIL constructed colonies to accommodate displaced families. However, villagers refused to move out as they feared unjust compensation, health impacts and unfulfilled livelihood promises, coupled with grave violation of allocation of land without consent of local people. While answering questions raised relating to Chutka Nuclear Project in Lok Sabha in 2023, it was stated that disbursement of compensation to landowners of private land was complete. Physical possession of the land was stated to be pending on account of want of shifting of affected persons to the colonies.
The nuclear project, after being mired in procedural and legal lapses for over a decade since its conception, saw renewed efforts by Central and State governments in 2024 to address concerns of all stakeholders including indigenous communities and those who would be displaced. In September 2024, the Madhya Pradesh government formed an eight-member steering committee to amicably resolve issues of land acquisition and rehabilitation.
A press release in March 2025 by Department of Atomic Energy stated that land acquisition formalities were complete and further, the challenges relating to resettlement and rehabilitation were being addressed in consultation with the state government. In May 2025, the Office of Collector Mandla published notification for acquisition of land of remaining three families of Kunda village.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Refusal to give up land for the project
Complaint against procedural violations
Demand to cancel the project
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Forest and Non-Forest, Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project underway despite protests
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Yes
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Residential area
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Yes
Source/Reference
In September 2025, the Madhya Pradesh government set up an eight-member steering committee to resolve issues, including the hurdles of land acquisition, related to the 1,400 MW Chutka nuclear power project in Mandla district. <https://theprint.in/india/mps-long-delayed-chutka-nuclear-project-moves-after-pmo-push-panel-to-work-on-better-rehab-plan/2290310/>
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
21000
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
2023
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Land Acquisition Laws, Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Environmental Law
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-implementation/violation of FRA
Violation of free prior informed consent
Controversial land acquisition by the government
Non-implementation/violation of PESA
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board; Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, Madhya Pradesh Power Generation Company, National Thermal Power Corporation
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Nuclear Power Corporation of India, Madhya Pradesh Power Generation Company
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
No
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Tribal communities
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
