Experts explain safety measures; urge them to create awareness
Drawing youngsters' attention towards acute power crisis faced by Tamil Nadu, hundreds of school students have been roped in to be ‘ambassadors' for Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant and support commissioning of the project at the earliest.
By explaining the advanced safety features of nuclear plant to students, a movement to mobilise public opinion in a big way began here on Friday through a public interest initiative of Velammal Educational Trust.
Senior officials from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant have been invited to speak to students and create awareness among them at the two-day Nuclear Energy Educational Meet (NEEM-2012) at the Velammal College of Engineering and Technology on March 2 and 3.
After making the students realise the State's power shortage and how a 2,000-MW nuclear power plant, which is ready, could not be commissioned due to “vested interests and selfish individuals,” an appeal was made to send telegrams to the Chief Minister demanding the immediate commissioning of KKNPP.
The advanced safety systems installed in Kudankulam and how the nuclear plant could withstand earthquake or tsunami besides the radiation proof design were explained by R.S. Sundar, Station Director, KKNPP, to students of various schools.
Initiating students into the movement, M.V. Muthuramalingam, chairman, Velammal Group of Educational Institutions, said that students were the best route to generate public opinion in support of the nuclear plant and defeat the ‘vested interests' of persons who were behind the protests.
“Electricity is the basic need for your studies, sleep and health. Students are the right ambassadors in this burning issue and through them we can reach out to their parents, relatives and friends. Thousands of Velammal students will be in this movement,” he said.
Mr. Sundar urged the students to trust what the scientific community had been vouching on Kudankulam plant's safety.
Allaying fears
Allaying fears and “wrong information” spread among people on radiation, Mr. Sundar clarified that even if a person lived close to the plant all the 365 days for 20 years continuously, he would have only radiation of just whatever came in one chest x-ray.
N. Suresh Kumar, Principal, Velammal College of Engineering and Technology, said that the objective of NEEM was to give factual information to youth and general public about Kudankulam plant at a time when the State was reeling under severe power shortage.
“On the one side, people are feeling frustrated and discomfort due to power cuts while there is one group making a hue and cry about the safety of nuclear energy,” he added.
Shyam Prakash Gupta, chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry-Madurai, said that power crisis would have deep impact on economy since it created losses for industries/enterprises and would lead to unemployment.
“If a nuclear power plant that is ready is not put to use, we would miss a golden opportunity. Tamil Nadu may slip down several notches due to power shortage. With the Central Government indicating that the power generated at Kudankulam can be taken by our State, it is time to build public opinion in support of commissioning it,” he said.
Govt should have done this much earlier.
TN & India need power. Nuclear Power is one of the various options.
Nuclear Power is used all over the world, including USA, Europe and
Asia. Govt has studied the options and decided on building this. When
their efforts are finally coming to fruition, certain NGOs supported
financially by foreigners are creating trouble.
The Govt. should be worried about the safety of people and must take
all precautions but this is NOT the time to waste all the money that
has already been spent and to spoil the project. India, is not that
rich and neither can India afford not to have this much needed power.
If the same foreigners who supply money to foment trouble, spend a
part of their money, they can help in protecting the people really
instead of just talking about it, like creating public awareness about
precautions, providing potassium iodide tablets for thyroid
protection, conducting mock evacuations & even helping in periodical
safety inspections etc
@Joseph - you are right. People have all the right to fight against something that might be a potential hazard. Even such a big company like Tata listened to people's concern at Singur when there were protests. And ultimately people won. This nuclear plant is multiple times hazardous than the Tata Nano plant and industrialist, corrupt politicians and greedy citizens who never knew the worth of agriculture and environment argue in favor of it. People arguing in favor of nuclear plant - will you sit for X-Ray examination for 1 hour and see what happens to your skin and health. This nuclear plant corrodes our environment and our skin to the core and its a SLOW POISON. Wake up to the hazards of nuclear energy - else its your future generations health that is at stake here.
Industrialization is important and hence power is needed to run all the industries BUT not at the cost of people in the nearby villages. People can sit in a safe place and allay fears of people but nothing can stand against the force of nature and its consequences and you cannot make a nature-calamity-proof safety standards. Will these folks who argue in favor of commissioning the plant - come and save people when there is a nuclear waste damaging the environment or when there is a natural disaster. Who was able to predict the tsunami and save millions who died even though they had so many scientific advancements.
we want Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant..We have udhaya kumar...he have been spoiling uneducated people mind there to stop india's growth...he is doing such activities againts india.
There is no danger due to KKNP. The Christian missionaries in the area feel that if it becomes developed, they will lose control over the people in that area. Several such attempts have been made in Kalpakkam as well (i am a resident of Kalpakkam), but have failed due to lack of ground support.
It is only a matter of time before the movement in Kudankulam fizzles out.
if nuclear power is safe, why is the government trying to dilute the liability on suppliers? why is it not showing us any grantee certificates issues by the Russians? KK will give us only 1000MW and TN 4500MW in deficit. the Power scenario in TN has been bad since 2007/2008, well before KK even came into picture. so let us not put the blame on 1 power plant instead of looking at who is actually responsible for poor power management.
The people of Idinthakarai and other nearby villagers are suffering a
lot because of the impending danger of KKNP. Govt. wants to suppress
the rights of poor people and encourages the rich people to annex more
wealth and stash away huge sums of black money at foreign banks. Some
educational institutions in order to get more publicity, they are also
suppressing the genuine protest of village people. The villagers’
intention is to safeguard the lives of even future generations. The
Govt. and the fame thirsty educational institutions should use their
resource to find other alternative to nuclear energy. By forcing the
students to opt for nuclear energy is detrimental to the future
generation. When will these institutions realise their responsibility?
The protesters of KKNP are dying of the impending danger of the
nuclear plant. It’s shame that an educational institution is
supporting disastrous industries
@Bob, for heaven's sake, don't add your bit for creating further fear psychosis. Be it Madurai or Tuticoin or even Kanyakumari - all places will be safe. Afterall, if TN can have Kalpakkam so close to Chennai and people can peacefully live without any fear for decades there, I find nothing wrong with people Kudankulam living close to nuclear power plant. Afterall, for last ten years, they never had any problem nor had any fear about Kudankulam. Only after local elections were announced the so called "fear psychosis" was perpetrated on the innocnet villagers by politically motivated - vested interests and self - styled leaders to serve their own ends. Those who still have a fear should recall Dr. Kalam's famous quote : "History is not made by cowards"! Let us not be fearful and allow Tamilnadu, the pride of our nation,to make India's biggest power project critical.
Well said! If Central & State Governement believes in inevitabity of "Nuclear Power" as a futuristic source of Power for our country, then, it should immedietely start from educating the children of our nation about the virtues of Nuclear Power in the elementary education itself and may be, cover the issues in depth about the various aspects of nuclear power, at the secondary education.
DRIVE HOME THE MESSAGE AT THE ROOT LEVEL, as this would go a long way in addressing the concerns and safety aspects of Nuclear Power - which is no doubt essential for our energy security.
If this had been done long back, first opposition to the anti-nuclear protstors would have come at the very root level, right in their homes from their school going wards and no protest of this kind against a ready-to-deliver project would have gained currency worth its salt, howsoever, one may try to motivate & misguide the people against Kudankulam!
Start educating "Nuclear" right from root level!
It is nice and safe if you live as far away as 150 kms. Nothing will happen to Velammal College of Engineering and Technology or anyone near by. Try explaining this to people in KK and Tutucorin Districts.
Please Email the Editor