Mumbai, April 16 (IANS): An NGO has cried foul over attempts by the central and the Maharashtra governments to strike a deal regarding the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP) despite the model code of conduct being in force, an official said Wednesday.

The Konkan Bachao Samiti (KBS) has shot off urgent letters to the Election Commission, the Chief Election Commissioner and Maharashtra's Chief Electoral Officer urging them to immediately direct the central and state governments to retrain from approving or entering into any kind of agreement pertaining to JNPP.

"There have been recent reports that the French company AREVA and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) are on the verge of entering into a commercial agreement pertaining to the power purchase rates. This must not be permitted in view of the ongoing election process in the country," KBS spokesperson Adwait Pednekar told IANS.

He claimed a draft agreement has been sent to the PMO for approval.

The KBS is objecting to the commercial agreements between AREVA and NPCIL in respect of JNPP which could entail commitment of expenditure running into over Rs.1 lakh crore.

"We submit that the signing of any agreements between the governments in respect of the cost of power from JNPP is a matter with major financial implications and repercussions which will impose a binding commitment on the nation to expenditure running into lakhs of crores of rupees," the KBS letter said.

"Any government which assumes office after the election would be bound to honour that agreement which is not ethical as there has been no public debate on the issue," Pednekar said.

The KBS has demanded the election authorities must ensure no such deal is signed without the prior approval of the EC, till a new government is formed.

The world's largest nuclear power generation project, the 9,900-MegaWatt JNPP is coming up at Madhban village in Ratnagiri district of coastal Maharashtra with French collaboration.