Mithi Virdi

Mithi Virdi is a coastal village located in the Talaja taluka of Bhavnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It gained national attention due to a proposed but later abandoned nuclear power plant project. Known for its fertile land and agricultural prosperity, the village represents the intersection of rural livelihoods, environmental conservation, and debates over industrial development in modern India.

Geographical Location and Features

Mithi Virdi lies along the Gulf of Khambhat (also known as the Gulf of Cambay) in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. The village is situated approximately 70 kilometres south of Bhavnagar city. The region is characterised by coastal plains, fertile alluvial soil, and subtropical climatic conditions, making it favourable for agriculture. The soil in the area often contains reddish sediment mixed with small quartz gravel, indicating ancient riverine activity.
The village’s name, meaning “sweet well,” is derived from the high quality and sweetness of its groundwater, a feature uncommon in coastal areas where salinity often affects wells. This abundance of fresh water contributes significantly to the region’s agricultural productivity.

Agricultural and Economic Profile

Agriculture forms the backbone of Mithi Virdi’s local economy. The area is known for multi-cropping systems, with farmers cultivating mangoes, sapodilla (cheeku), vegetables, pulses, and fodder crops throughout the year. The fertile soil, reliable water sources, and favourable weather allow some farmers to harvest three crops annually, making the village one of the more prosperous rural settlements in southern Gujarat.
Besides crop farming, the community also engages in horticulture and small-scale animal husbandry, further strengthening its economic self-reliance. The local agricultural pattern reflects sustainable land use and careful water management that supports both productivity and ecological balance.

The Proposed Nuclear Power Project

Background

In the late 2000s, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) proposed setting up a large nuclear power park near Mithi Virdi. The project was planned to include six reactors with a combined capacity of around 6,000 megawatts, making it one of the largest nuclear projects in India at the time. The total land requirement was about 777 hectares, of which more than 600 hectares were agricultural lands belonging to farmers from Mithi Virdi and neighbouring villages such as Jaspara, Khadarpar, and Mandva.
The proposed site’s selection was part of a national strategy to expand nuclear energy generation under India’s civil nuclear agreements with global partners.

Local Opposition

The project faced widespread opposition from local residents and environmental groups. The key reasons for resistance included:

• Loss of fertile agricultural land and displacement of farming families.
• Concerns about radiation risks and the long-term environmental impact of a coastal nuclear plant.
• Threats to marine ecosystems and groundwater sources.
• Procedural irregularities in public consultations, where local voices were reportedly overlooked.

In 2013, thousands of farmers and villagers boycotted an official public hearing, demanding that the project be cancelled and the environmental impact assessment be redone with local participation. Their movement drew support from environmentalists, civil society groups, and academics advocating for sustainable rural livelihoods.

Abandonment of the Project

After years of protests, legal challenges, and administrative delays, the Indian government announced in 2017 that the proposed Mithi Virdi nuclear power plant would be abandoned. The site selection was withdrawn, and the project was shifted to Kavvada in Andhra Pradesh, citing issues in land acquisition and local resistance.
The decision was widely seen as a victory for grassroots activism and a milestone in India’s environmental and land-rights movements.

Environmental and Social Significance

The Mithi Virdi case is often cited as an example of community-led resistance against top-down industrial projects that threaten agrarian ecosystems. The region’s rich biodiversity, combined with its dependence on agriculture, made it particularly unsuitable for heavy industrial development.
Environmental studies had warned that a coastal nuclear plant could alter the local microclimate, contaminate soil and water, and affect fishing and farming livelihoods. The protests thus underscored the need for ecological sensitivity in site selection for large-scale infrastructure projects.

Broader Implications

Mithi Virdi’s experience holds lessons for India’s development policy, highlighting the tensions between economic modernisation and sustainable rural development. The episode demonstrates:

• The growing importance of local participation in environmental decision-making.
• The role of civil society and public mobilisation in influencing government policy.
• The balance required between energy security goals and ecological preservation.