Land acquisition for nuclear plant in A.P. faces stiff resistance
It is the same old story of development versus displacement and the haplessness of the infirm against the might of the state.
With the Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear agreement paving the way for India to purchase uranium from the global market, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has lined up a series of nuclear plants in different parts of the country, including one at Kovvada in the backward Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh.
Following the tsunami-triggered disaster at Fukushima-Daiichi plant in Japan last year, opposition to nuclear plants is growing in the country. While fierce and widespread protests were witnessed in Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu), where one of the two VVER-type reactors ( 2,000 MWe) is ready for operation, people in and around Kovvada are also resisting the proposed establishment of six reactors (1,594 MWe each) to generate 9,564 MWe with an investment of Rs. 1 lakh crore.
Authorities are gearing up to acquire around 2,000 acres at Pedda Kovvada, Chinna Kovvada, Tekkali and Ramachandrapuram. Despite promises of attractive compensation packages, land acquisition is facing stiff resistance from 3,000 families likely to be displaced and civil society groups.
Although Kovvada plant project director G.V. Ramesh claims that 90 per cent of the people are in favour of the project and had given their consent to the Joint Collector, the former Sarpanch, Mylapalli Polisu, rejects any package on the ground that a majority of the people were opposed to the project. “The problem will not end with announcement of the package,” he warns.
"Bleak future”
Another villager, M. Appanna, who was among the group of people taken on a guided tour to the Kalpakkam atomic power project in Tamil Nadu, says he is not convinced by the officials' argument. “Our future will be bleak as land rates are skyrocketing and many restrictions have been imposed on fishing,” he adds. A local leader, A. Ramulu, says villagers are unable to raise loans or sell properties, leaving them with no choice but to accept the package.
Mr. Ramesh says 1,200 acres to be acquired belonged to the government and it is quite possible to negotiate and meet most of the demands. NPCIL will implement whatever is listed by the government's policy laying down that land compensation should be four times the existing rates. “They will get a very good package,” he says.
Mr. Ramesh says the technology of the six reactors is the latest — generation III Plus. They are absolutely safe and automatically shut down in case of an earthquake of over 7.2 magnitude. Besides, all the systems are passive. “Once it gets shut down, the reactor's cooling would take place on its own for a fortnight. Only then, human intervention would be required.”
The former Union Power Secretary, E.A.S. Sarma, a vocal critic of the Kovvada plant, accuses the Andhra Pradesh government of violating rules and ordering forcible acquisition of 2,252 acres. He terms it a ‘decide-and-announce' approach.
According to him, however low be the probability of a Fukushima-like disaster at Kovvada, the outcome of an accident will not only be extensive but affect future generations too. People exposed to radioactivity can have genetic disorders and cancerous diseases. The low liability cap in the civil nuclear liability law also raise doubts about the safety of the imported reactors.
He says Kovvada is densely populated and within the “exclusion” zone up to 1.5 km from the project site, where no one is expected to live, there are five villages, mostly of fishermen, with 3,504 people, and 560 acres of agricultural land.
Within the “sterilised” zone up to 5 km, where no development will take place, there are 42 villages. In the “emergency planning zone,” up to 16 km, there are 66 villages, while a large number of people are residing in the “impact assessment” zone up to 30 km. The threat of evacuation in the event of an accident will constantly hang over them.
Dr. Sarma says it is premature to start land acquisition even before the Ministry of Environment and Forests has an opportunity to evaluate alternative sites, get an Environmental Impact Assessment study done, hold public consultations and get the project appraised as per the requirement in the Environment (Protection) Act. Those residing in the four zones are yet to be informed of the dangers.
The Department of Atomic Energy has failed to comply with the disclosure norms set out in Section 4 of the RTI Act. “Forcible land acquisition against this background amounts to gross violation of human rights,” he says.
(With contributions from M. Melly Maitreyi, K. Srinivasa Rao & Santosh Patnaik.)
Keywords: Kovvada nuclear plant, Kudankulam nuclear project, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, Indo-US nuclear deal, Andhra Pradesh
The local people has the right to protest against the Nuclear projects.The nuclear reactor produces nuclear waste which is very harmful to Environment and ecology. Further the whole world must do away with nuclear projects for ever. The power projects will ultimately lead to producing N bombs thereby disrupting world peace.
Nuclear power is the future for India. If our dream of complete rural electrification is to be achieved (efforts have been taken in this direction through measures like Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana),we need to depend on nuclear energy.Though Fukushima disaster is fresh in our minds, that should not deter us from setting up power plants. We should, instead learn from the Japanese experience and take adequate safeguards. I agree with Dr. Sarma's view that an Environmental Impact Assessment and public consultations should be done before embarking on land acquisition for the project. The residents should be informed about the benefits as well as the precautions that are needed to be taken. It should also be ensured that their livelihood is not drastically affected and if so, alternative arrangements should be made for them.
First of, India does not need nuclear power. Next, trying to put a nuclear power plant in Andhra Pradesh is really laughable. Because AP is the most irresponsible and the worst State in India. India's priorities are screwed up! What India needs right now, is potable/drinking water. It needs a sewer system and water purification plants. India needs above all, an infra-structure to manage and make the country liveable.
I m not sure how to react. A country that is hungry for energy, cannot rely on fossil fuel - coal(we have lower quality deposits), petroleum(we do not have too much of it either) what should it do to meet the urgent demand which if not met can lead to long term severe consequences for the nation. We need to make a choice between a quick alternative but risk filled alternative and try to make most out of our current vital national achievements or keep our selves on under fears and cull growth. Nonetheless project personnel should keep security of plan a top priority.
I think we have to grow up, we blame the same government for not
providing enough electricity, but when it comes with a plan (anything
will impacts, if we go with hydro electricity, that will destroy
forest) If we look for green source of energy, that will take ages
for ROI, but concerned on people over there, government should
seriously think about finding some alternative place, supported we
have long coastal line.
Nuclear power is certainly not the ideal source of energy but the alternatives aren't terribly practical or cost effective. Yes, solar energy would be abundant but how much energy would be generated per square meter of space used? Are people aware of which materials are used in solar cells? It would be rare semi-conductors, the production of which (mining) would most likely to be a terribly disruptive process, ecologically, economically, and via human displacement. Unfortunately the human need for energy is nigh on insatiable. Can we do without increments in power which are essential to our development? If not, we need to reconcile ourselves to some home truths about the need for power and the currently viable sources of the same. The greatest opponents of nuclear technology have been those who know nothing about it in technical terms. Let us have a technical rebuttal to the claims of nuclear safety.
If those organizing the protests are so convinced that nuclear power is so harmful they should ask for all nuclear plants in India to be shut down. T nadu government which is siding the protestors for political purposes - should ask for closing down kalpakkam plant - we should also learn to live with just 30-40% of our present energy consumption. we will have to do so until we find out alternate energy sources which are sale and economical.
Dr.Sarma's concern is valid like concern (Nuclear Disaster) of public living in nearby areas whether it is Kundan Kulam or Kovvada. But whether expert technical advice is to be relied upon or mediocre thought which is also applicable to multi-storeyed sky scrapers or longest bridges etc. Also, the whole plant can be made underground with some more addl. cost. Former Prime Minister was always exhorting for solar power but why it didn't develop in a bigway sofar? Reason, Limitations. Before the region becomes powerless, be prudent & act. Don't ruin the very few good initiatives of government for your growth and development.
Just today a video was uploaded on youtube on an interview with a German Filmmaker who has put together a documentary to show that 100% electricity from renewable sources from free fuels is 100% possible. But he adds that "Some very powerful people do not want to give up deadly and dangerous nuclear power. Here is the link to the video Please watch what this man has to say. We have to be strong and brave and fight these evil people who want to keep us on the brink of extinction with their evil plans. The video is entitled "Fukushima Japan, Global Effects, Renewable Energy and is uploaded by rumorecuriouso and can be located on youtube.
One point our country is forgetting is that we are making our fertile lands into barren. Agriculture is the backbone of our country. Government can instead come up with other places/lands where the lands are barren and nothing can be made out of it. What is the point in earning and development when there is no food to eat.Already kakinada is occupied with petroleum industries. Now its times for the balance of nature.
nuclear energy has found to be a good alternative by many developing countries in the world for the production of electricity .the cost for one unit of electricity is 60p to Re1, but the existence of these plants in one of the fine places like either near populated fishing cost,bioreserve etc is always discouraged by any human community . besides these they also take the livelyhood of many people with meagre packages. one of the reasons that kudankulam project is that the local community were not give jobs in or around the plant .with unemployment and food price rising every year and many answers to be given in regard to the safety of the existing nuclear plant. it is foolish to jump for the construction of new plants.
My earnest appeal to my brethern at Kovvada in Srikakulam dist. is not to emulate bad things from Tamilnadu or elsewhere but be prudent enough to the realities so that their life improves better and better. Local Sarpanch opposing Project Director appears to be due to misinformation or lack of awareness of quality development and developed world. Are we not aware of the lust greenery surrounding god forsaken Rajashan desert where Indira Gandhi canal is passing ? I'm sure the people and leaders of Srikakulam dist. are wise enough to demand the plant and other paraphernalia there so that the area will be true jewel of AP in development
What Dr Sarma points out is correct.It is quite saddening that our country is really becoming a dangerous place to live in as it is being forcefully put under a nuclear umbrella,in the name of electricity, by our nuclear energy Department. Our rulers do not care for what the world has learned from the sinister history of nuclear disasters or irreversible environmental and health hazards inherent in that technology.Several other safer options for electricity are overlooked for the sake of the nuclear option, which has almost become an obsession for our government.
Over 60% of Indians depend on agriculture which is essential to feed all of us. Industrialization of this land and the people is an optimistic development provided the farmers are trained and absorbed in industrial sector. Modern technology can accomplish food production with smaller number of farmers. The problem here is not industrialization. It is depriving the locals from their livelihood, disturbing their way of life by taking away what they own. An actual compensation to the locals and their future generations would be to offer a better livelihood and a share in development. It is nothing different than robbing people's human right to live unless the compensation guarantees their future.
I do not blame the villagers for protesting, they have every right to protest. Their livelihood is also at stake, once the power plant is built then there will be no place for the fishermen, they would be forced to leave, as it has been the theme of many Indian novels. Fear knows no logic, the images of Japan's Fukushima is hovering over their head that is why they cannot understand the "safety" and "sacurity" of Kovvada power plant. They will not understand that it will automatically shut down after an earthquake over 7.2 richter scale. We must also realise that even though we make all the praparations, if disaster is destined to happen then it will happen. Usually all power plants have their safety measure, but during accidents these safety measure do not work, may be their is power cut or nuts and bolts are not tight enough etc. But in no way am I saying that we should not prepare and just leave it for the destiny to work.We should prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
Why would Governments all over the world trade their citizens lives for big plans? Nuclear power is proved time and again destructive in one sense or the other. We have latest technologies to have green power without any ill effects at all. This nuclear-power plan is very OLD thinking it has lost relevance into days world. From Dr.Abdul Kalam to main line Papers, they lost sight of easy possibilities - Just see the You-tube video demonstrations by hundreds and thousands of people who showed how to make electricity from cheapest Solar/Magnetic/fields. If anybody wants I can send ten thousand links as a starter before Indian Government could think about banning internet sites.
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