Protesters' demand for copies of vital documents turned down
The third round of talks between the Central Experts Team on Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) and the protesters' representatives in the State panel failed on Thursday and the relay fast against the upcoming nuclear power programme is still going on at Idinthakarai.
The anti-nuke protesters hoisted black flags in their hamlets on the coastline of Tirunelveli to express their dissatisfaction over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Moscow to ink the deal on constructing the third and the fourth reactors each with 1,000 MWe capacity at Kudankulam. Moreover, relay fast for three days is being observed since Thursday as the Prime Minister is on a 3-day tour to Russia.
The protesters' representatives M. Pushparayan and M.P. Jesuraj, while rejecting the experts' replies to their earlier queries as “inadequate and factually wrong,” were determined to get copies of vital documents relating to the KKNPP and holding a meeting between the experts of People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) and the Central Team. Both the demands were turned down summarily, which led to the failure of talks held on Thursday.
The next round of talks between the two teams may take place if the Centre asks its experts' team to meet the PMANE's experts and gives copies of the documents as demanded.
Emerging from the 150-minute-long meeting held at the Collectorate since 11 a.m., Mr. Pushparayan said that since the Centre's Experts Team expressed its inability to provide the copies of “some vital documents,” the protesting people's “genuine fears” could not be addressed effectively. “If the Centre's experts are not prepared to meet the protesting people and cannot provide us the documents, they should at least meet our team of experts,” said Mr. Pushparayan, who handed over a 70-page questionnaire to the Central experts. He, through Collector R. Selvaraj, also submitted a petition to the Central experts seeking permission to inspect the reactors by PMANE experts.
However, convener of the Central team A.E. Muthunayagam rejected this demand saying that they had been told to hold talks with the State panel to allay the fears of the people. “If the Centre wants us to talk (to the experts of the protesters), we'll speak to them. We're open for talks with anyone,” said Dr. Muthunayagam while claiming that there was progress in the talks.
He once again reiterated that 2 X 1,000 MWe VVER reactors at Kudankulam were safe with state-of-the-art redundant safety features and there was no chance for accidents. The oceanography specialist said there was no violation in the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) norms.
“Since the Central experts team has effectively responded to all the queries raised by the protesters, now they are diverting their attention by raising the fears of undersea volcanic activity,” Dr. Muthunayagam said. Team member C.V.R. Murthy from Indian Institute of Technology – Madras said the KKNPP would not be affected by the mild “volcanic activity that lies off the coast of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.”
Concluding his remarks, Dr. Muthunayagam said that only maintenance activities were going on at KKNPP. “If this situation is allowed to continue, it will badly affect the healthiness of the hi-tech equipment installed.”
This is very sad. The plant is latest design with safeest design. We ahve nuclear power plants all over the world. No problem. how chrch people want not to run these ?? Fukushima is not base for any protest. It is 40 years old design and in highest active seismic zone. Koodamkulam palnt is latest safest design and in most no active seismic zone. we need legal action against church people for un resonable, unwarranted protests workig against country.
I fail to understand on what ground our PM has assured of commissioning the 1st Unit of KNPP in few weeks. The protestors are making ridiculous demands with the sole intention of not allowing the opening up KNPP. No matter who talks with them, these protesters will not let this operational unless Govt. of Tamil Nadu acts decisively. It's surprising that Govt. of TN is keeping quite on this issue and letting these people get away with mischievous campaign and using the innocent people for some ulterior motive behind this agitation. It's time the Govt of TN and India takes some firm/assertive steps and bring this impasse to end. I doubt all these will happen in the next few weeks.
what "vital document" Mr pushpan wants? Why he is not explaining it at least partially? i don’t think the documents related to the national security issues can’t be given to anybody just like that?
and i fell he is in trouble by playing drama with thousands of innocent people life. He want to survive and he will continue say nuclear is still not clear !!!!!.
Even if coal production/mining is speeded up, India does not have the required infrastructure / rail transport network to move the coal from eastern India to various parts.
Moreover, fossil fuel fired plants, emit tons of CO2, polluting the environment and this could prove to be disastrous for our country, in the era of global warming. India thus needs to be cautious in adding coal plants without proper planning.
Hydel plants are being opposed by green lobby & environmentalists due to the displacement & submerging of adjoining areas around the reservoirs. More ever, it’s again nature dependent!
One humbly hopes, PMANE & their friends rise above their narrow interests & renounce their pre-conceived notions on kudankulam and nuclear power. They have made their point in the last 3 months & now that, Dr. Kalam & expert panel have declared it safe, we need to respect the scientific opinion to ensure much needed energy security to our country.
Myth No. 4 : Nuclear power plants emits harmful radiation & it causes cancer
Fact : Radiation is everywhere even without a nuclear power plant around. All scientific data & evidence around operating nuke plants world wide, incl. India, shows that, any increase in the radiation level due to nuke plants is extremely marginal & totally harmless. Radiation rather treats cancer.
The scientific data also shows that, the five countries in the world with highest no. of cancer cases do not have nuclear plants in their country, clearly proving that, nuke plants do not cause cancer.
Myth No. 5 : India can survive with thermal & hydel power alone & does not need nuclear power
Fact : Amount of energy generated by 750 tons of coal is equal to barely 30 to 40 kgs of naturally occurring uranium. India’s has just 10% of world coal and it’s fast depleting. Import of the coal at the spiraling prices of USD is not only expensive, but a burden on India’s precious foreign exchange.
1000 words are not enough to call the bluff of PMANE, yet let’s all be aware of Myths & facts :
Myth No. 1 : Many countries have abandoned their nuclear power programme
Fact : Around 65 nuclear reactors are still under construction in as many as 15 countries including Japan!
Myth No. 2 : Germany will phase out all its nuclear power by 2022.
Fact : European unions share all power, road & rail networks with other member countries & would continue to get the Nuclear power from neighboring France not just now, even after 2022
Myth no. 3 : Nuclear Power can be replaced by wind or solar plants
Fact : India’s present installed capacity of 1,85,000 MW with per capita consumption of 750 kwh needs to be increased four times to achieve the world wide avg. of 2600 kwh. Wind potential in our country is ~45000 MW & @PLF of 25%,it can at the most contribute only 10000MW to the grid. Solar is still distant dream, with its exorbitant cost and nature dependency.
Who is this protesters' representative Mr. M. Pushparayan? Where he was till now? What he was doing all along during the very long construction period? If any safety is lagging in the plant, he should openly tell and assist to provide/implement the same.
The only option is to declare the KKNPP project site as PROTECTED area and commission the Plant. We should take a strong action for the good cause of the mankind. After completing 99.2 % of the work and assurance of the various experts for the safety, we should not allow the peoples to take the law in to their hands.People of Tamilnadu is more affected.
The talks between Central Panel & PMANE fails again. Anything surprising ? Not at all!. By holding a project, almost ready to deliver the power, on ransom for nearly 3 months now, PMANE with its handful of crusaders in minority has done an irreparable damage to the majority in Tamilnadu by denying its due share of 1000 MW power.
No wonder, after the initial lull, more & more organizations/outfits are coming out in the open, voicing their support for the project – which is the need of the hour for a state reeling under power cuts.
Take a look in recent editions of Hindu, the small & tiny scale industries across the state, from Madurai to Kovai, Tiruchi to Nellai, who have taken the brunt of unprecedented power cuts in the state have all come in the open voicing their support for commissioning Kudankulam. Many socio - political outfits have also given a similar call, yet surprising to note that, the custodians of St. George Fort are unmoved.
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