Kudankulam: PMANE appeals for fresh dialogue

Wants Chief Minister to take the initiative

August 21, 2012 02:36 am | Updated November 16, 2021 11:10 pm IST - TIRUNELVELI:

The People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), which is demanding the scrapping of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) and organising protests at Idinthakarai, has urged Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to initiate a fresh round of dialogue with the protesters.

In an appeal to Ms. Jayalalithaa through the media, the PMANE blamed the Department of Atomic Energy for not sharing the site evaluation report and the safety analysis report on the KKNPP with the protesters and not listening to their “genuine concerns” over solid and liquid waste management.

Moreover, nothing was done to allay the “genuine fears” of the local community on the upcoming nuclear power programme.

In a letter, PMANE requested Ms. Jayalalithaa to turn the KKNPP “into a pro-people and nature-friendly project, formulate a solar power policy and set up projects all over the State, rectify transmission and distribution issues and protect the interests of the Tamil people.

When the Madras High Court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the fuel loading in the first reactor at Kudankulam, some Ministers of the United Progressive Alliance government showed disrespect to the court by announcing the date when the reactor would attain criticality, it alleged.

At the same time, the Union Government, which was not prepared to reveal its Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) with Russia on the first two reactors, had entered into another agreement on constructing the third and the fourth reactors at Kudankulam.

“When you assumed power in 2011 and stood up for the popular causes of the Tamil people, we heaved a sigh of relief that we have a leader who understands our needs and wants … We were so shocked when you reversed your stand on the KKNPP issue in March 2012,” the PMANE stated in its letter to Ms. Jayalalithaa.

Noting that she had, on Sunday, written to the Prime Minister, demanding that the entire power produced by Kudankulam project for Tamil Nadu, the organisation said neither the Prime Minister nor his office had acknowledged her letters on March 31 and April 25.

She had earlier demanded more power from the Central pool, but the Union Government had ignored her genuine requests, it said.

Jayalalithaa lauded

While lauding the Chief Minister’s efforts in safeguarding the interest of Tamil Nadu, the letter came down heavily on the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board for having given its nod for the KKNPP, “which will release sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matters and many other harmful radioactive pollutants.”

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