Thursday, April 6 2006 19:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jalandhar: The Punjab government today (Apr 06, 2006) ruled out submitting any proposal to the Centre for setting up a nuclear power plant in the state, saying any such move would pose a 'security risk.'

"You see Punjab is a border state and thickly populated too and I cannot put my people at risk for setting up a nuclear power plant to overcome the power crisis in the state," Chief Minister Amarinder Singh told sources here today (Apr 06, 2006).

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh while laying the foundation stone for an elevated highway project in Panipat yesterday had said the Centre will consider setting up an atomic power plant at Kumharia in neighbouring Haryana.

The Chief Minister when asked if an atomic plant in adjacent Haryana would not be 'equally risky' for Punjab also, said "I cannot stop Haryana from setting up the nuclear plant and moreover, Punjab will also stake its share in the plant."

On the plight of farmers in the state, Singh expressed concern on the spurt in 'suicides' and revealed that the state government would soon send a proposal to the Centre seeking help for waiving farmers' loans within a fortnight.

"Total rural debt at present is Rs 24,000 crore against the earning of agriculturists at Rs 7,200 crore and under the circumstances it will be impossible to give relief to the farmers without financial assistance from the Union government," he said.