Drop Kaiga expansion plans, urge seer, environmentalists

Environmentalists congregate at Yellapur

June 26, 2017 12:20 am | Updated 12:20 am IST - HUBBALLI

Expressing apprehensions over the adverse impact of nuclear radiation in the region, a convention of environmental activists, elected representatives and Gangadharendra Saraswati swami of Sonda Swarnavalli Mutt urged the Union government to drop plans to expand the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) unit at Kaiga.

In the event held at Yellapur in Uttar Kannada district on Sunday, the speakers focussed on the ‘adverse impact’ of nuclear reactors and the need for look for other renewable sources of energy.

The seer gave a call to the public and political parties to unite to stop the expansion of NPCIL. He said said the expansion would affect public health and ecology. The Centre had announced plans to set up the fifth and sixth nuclear reactor at Kaiga.

Comprehensive study sought

Environmentalist Y.B. Ramakrishna said when developed countries had stopped funding nuclear plants as they were expensive and dangerous, it was quite strange that India was planning to expand nuclear power generation units. Environmentalists B.M. Kumaraswamy, Vishnu Kamath and Anant Hegde Ashisara, scientist T.V. Ramachandra, MLAs Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri and Shivaram Hebbar attended the convention.

The speakers sought a comprehensive study on the impact of the nuclear reactor on public health and environment in and around Kaiga, especially in the wake of the rise of cases of Cancer and other diseases in the region.

Setting up of solar plant in Uttar Kannada district; setting up a public protection committee by NPCIL; proper medical treatment and financial assistance to families of cancer-affected people residing in and around Kaiga, and rehabilitation of families residing within a radius of 5 km from NPCIL, were the other resolutions passed at the convention.

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