After the Jaitapur nuclear power project in Maharashtra, it is now the turn of the 2,000-MWe Kudankulam atomic plant in Tamil Nadu to run into serious opposition.
As protests by local residents and activists intensified, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Monday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to order the halting of the project until concerns and fears about the plant's safety were addressed.
Hours later, Dr. Singh called up Ms. Jayalalithaa and informed her that he was deputing Minister of State in his office V. Narayanasamy to meet the protesters and allay their apprehensions. Over a 100 protesters have been on a fast for the last nine days, voicing fears about the safety of the plant, especially in the light of the Fukushima radiation crisis in Japan in March.
In a letter, the Chief Minister accused the Union government of “abdicating its responsibilities.” She said she would send an all-party delegation, led by Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam along with representatives of the people, to the Prime Minister. She wanted Dr. Singh to send competent authorities to hold discussions with the Kudankulam people and convince them to their satisfaction.
“The last few days have been very agonising for the people of Kudankulam as they are under great apprehension in the wake of the Fukushima disaster and other similar calamities reported in the press. It is only natural that the people living here fear for the safety of their families and for themselves,” Ms. Jayalalithaa said.
In a statement, she appealed to the protesters to give up their fast.
Only a few days ago, she said there was no need for any apprehension as adequate safety measures were in place. However, the agitation has since gained much political support and the number of protesters has swelled. Social activist Medha Patkar met them at Idinthakarai in Tirunelveli district on Monday.
Responding to the Chief Minister's appeal, coordinator of the protest S.P. Udhayakumar said any decision on calling off the agitation would be made only after consulting leaders of various organisations involved in it.
Before commissioning of electricity, Government should keep in mind that safety of general public is primary concern, them comes the necessity of people. We all know that an accident in Nuclear Power plant can never be cent percent avoided. And if accident takes place, can cause damages to human life and environment which can never be repaired. Please save us from the Nuclear Waste and Radiation. >
I am from kalpakkam where i did my schooling and lived there for 30 years in the township. My father was retd eng from MAPS Kalpakkam. There is no need have any fear about the nuclear diaster. We have very good safety measures regd the nuclear plants. Many foregin countries were astonished by seeing our safety measures. There many other available energyies like wind, solar and water. however, the money that involes in production is very high and also the output will be low and it will increase the cost of the electricity. Nuclear projects will cost effective and also has very very good safety measures. Also we all should proud to have such a Nuclear plants. Dont compare it with USA, JAPAN etc. we are having good saftey measures. Also see the money that goes into this project. It his project is going to happen, then southern part of Tamil Nadu has to spent there summers day in dark. We are not having enough electricity production to meet the requirments. Pleas Understand and think
In the wake of the tragedy there is need for ensuring nuclear power plants operate at the highest levels of safety. However, there is no escaping the reality that India's cuurent needs for energy can only be met by nuclear fuel and coal. Some have suggested tapping alternative sources of energy such as solar power but solar or wind energy are not viable options at present and will not meet the country's growing demands. Politicians should be careful not to advocate stopping nuclear power plants as this would hurt the nation. They should work with everyone, including scientists, to ensure higher levels of safety at nuclear power plants.
Dear PM: You and your team cannot save the country from Corruption. Atleast for God's sake please DO NOT initiate these projects & kill 1000's of innocent lives. Accidents / Natural disasters may happen at any time. Life time of employees working in Nuclear Power plants will surely detoriate & their family / children are going to suffer if something happens to the employees. There are so many natural resources available in Mother India. Please see and learn from Anna Hazare - how beautifully he has built a Self Sustainable Village. Please Learn from him.
The indigenous nuclear power plants run by NPCIL from installation to disposal,from storing spent fuel to reprocessing the radio-active substances and public sector units mining radio-active materials should be sensitive to the genuine safety concerns of the general public and play a more pro-active, effective and responsible role by educating the people regarding the environmental and social impacts of their projects and also by interacting with the people living near the vicinity of sites regarding all kinds of hazards associated with nuclear plant functionings. The corporations should conduct research and tests about susceptibilities of sites with regard to natural disasters and security concerns. When it comes to incidents like radiation exposure,contamination and other occupational hazards of workers, stress to environment, safety violations by the industries the need of the hour is to improve transparency regarding accidents and safety issues.
Please,do think about the money invested on these project.Why don't they show their objection before the commencement of this scheme.This project was signed between Indian and Russia during Indira Gandhi regime in 1980s.What are these DMK & AIADMK governments done for the last 30 years.Why should they object now. All for political gains. Stupid politicians.Stupid state governments.How the country can develop?
I have seen many readers advocating for Solar and wind Energy as a substitute for nuclear Plants. We know that the Copenhagen summit and there afterwards the Cancun Summit had helped us to position India's long-term plan for combating global warming. Making a strong pitch for the country to shift towards renewable energy sources from fossil fuels, India should bargain for large-scale resources to finance a Solar Mission, at least to mitigate dependence of conventional energy.
Actually a global initiative by the Basic Nations including India must emerge out to create an exclusive fund for SOALR PROJECTS will be worthwhile around the globe which can be implemented on a war footing at all tropical nations. Sufficient funds are to be earmarked to nations as per globally accepted parameters of UNFCCC. Our Central government must offer direct cash-subsidies to industries that come forward to install SOLAR POWER PACTS.
If adequate safety measures are taken, this plant will be certainly a boon to our country. Sources like wind, sun etc are good but can not cater the ever increasing demand. The only way perhaps is to reduce the consumption of electricity and limit our needs in a Gandhian way. But how many will be willing ??
India being a developing country needs huge energy to drive its economy for which dependence on Solar, termal enery would be insufficient. We have to develop Nuclear Power stations. But at the same time leave no stone unturned in harnessing Thermal, Solar and wind energy.Dependence on Nuclear Energy shoul be low.
Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant has more safety features than any other Nuclear Power Plants in India. It has a built-in core catcher to take care of Chernobyl type event besides extra cooling arrangements to take care of any eventuality. The public misconception on Nuclear Power Plants as whole is mainly due irrational reporting by Indian Electronic media on recent Nuclear Accidents . For example the recent explosion in France , which was an industrial accident involving an electric induction furnace used for melting and consolidating scrap metal structural components, pumps, valves and tools made of stainless steel or carbon steel that are lightly contaminated with short-lived and very-low-level radioactivity. But our TVs equated it with Chernobyl accident in Russia . Fukushima of Japan is entirely different case as the region is quake prone and the plants had several safety related deficiencies. Our politicians should refrain from taking advantage of lack of public knowledge.
Approps to some comments from some of the readers here that India has to enhance renewables and avoid nuclear power. This scenario is not viable, since renewable technologies are very intermittent and at an average, they are only capable of producing ~ 16% to 20% of their capacity. Prof S P Sukhatme of IIT Bombay recently estimated in a scholarly paper that renewables, at best could only provide under 49% of the yearly power requirements of India by 2050. Clearly, while renewables must be encouraged, conventional sources like nuclear are pollution free. The three stage programme envisaged by the Government of India is appropriate and viable. One only hopes the public relations wing of KKNP takes local communities into confidence. It is understood that adequate safety measures are built in after Fukushima. They need to be communicated well to members of public and civil society.
a country like japan has suffered with nuclear reactor problem because of natural calamity., then what will be the fate of India, especially near to the plant's localities. For 100% sure., Indian standard is not equal or upto the Japanese standard. Politicians can say., it has very good safety etc. but its not true and its biased to disperse the crowd. When i came out of India., then only i understood., what is Indian standard and what is international. because of corrupt and unskilled staffs., the standard is not maintained. Atomic energy is the need of time., but if the high safety is maintained then it will be welcomed. Else it will be a big disaster.
To every one commenting here... Dont take it as just another news or article... consider it as an appeal for their lifes & livelihood... whatever industries and growth we are going to achieve is for this very people. It should not be at the cost of this people. Will anyone agree for such thing for a danger at their own backyard? How many of you will agree for an expansion at kalpakkam plant???
This agitation is for their life protection against insecurity. This should be considered by authorities and they should find other means to generate power.
This KKNP-Project has come this level after more than a quarter century hard efforts by the concerned Central Govt. Dept and smooth cooperation by State Govt. Departments as well. Further delay means National loss, if time is considered. How ever apprehensions and serious livelihood doubts of the local communities are to dispelled in no uncertain terms by the Scientists who are going to be part of them. Earlier solution is to be found for the following;
1. A dialogue with local bodies and elected representatives furnishing relevant information on all safety aspects, and make a provision for continuing a permanent consultation mechanism(JCM type) 2.Preventive medical check ups for people living in the vicinity. 3.Prompt Measures with written procedures for averting accident and emergencies,with compensation if necessary.
These are not exhaustive, and Atomic Energy Scientists can certainly make living happy for themselves and their neighborhood.
Central government had responsibity in clearing all the doubts about the safety measures they are taking in nuclear plant.
After what happened in Chernobyl, Russia, after what has happened in Fukushima of Japan and after the recent explosion in France, it is definitely not worth proceeding further with establishing new nuclear power producing plants. So much of sun light is available all over the year in India and abundant wind power is untapped in coastal areas. We should avoid nuclear plants and risk for human lives. We should invest all our money and energy in tapping wind and Solar energy now.
A letter to the Prime Minister of India: Please listen to the voice of the People., who are fasting in Idinthakarai. Please listen to the Voice of the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, who asks you not to proceed with the Koodamkulam Nuclear Plant. Please learn from Mamatha Banerjee, who scraped Haripur Nuclear Plant. You and your colleagues are taking away lakhs and lakhs crores of Rupees of the people through corruption, and you cannot protect India from such corruption. How can you save us from the Nuclear Waster and Radiation?
Please learn from Pukushima Disaster. Please learn from Germany who are going to dismantle all the Nuclear Plants. Please learn from the struggles of Jaithapur. We do not believe your talk of safety when you cannot do anything on Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Are you willing to be culpable with a CAPITAL PUNISHMENT if there is a >disaster in Koodamkulam by a LEGISLATION? If you are pushing Nuclear Plants in India, you are going to be liable forever.
Can Hindu come up with a detailed analysis on the economic impact of this project in the Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts and the potential benefits of the plant once the project is complete ? We are talking about multi billion dollars in tax money going down the drain if this project is scrapped. Don't even talk about the lost opportunity cost. I am definitely for applying the lessons learned from Fukushima disaster on Kudankulam power project and not to have a similar disaster in India. Safety & quality is of utmost importance and cost & schedule cannot override it.At the same time , the above statement has to applied with great responsibility and due diligence has to be done before statements such as "HALT KUDANKULAM" is made,which can severely demoralize the people who spent their time at the project. I believe NPCIL has to get their hands dirty and their feet on the ground and start a media campaign with facts and figures to convince the local people.
There is one more facility related to atomic research finalised for consturction near Bodinayakanur (Theni District) of Tamil Nadu. Not much information is being communicated to the local communities around. From the little detail that comes out, this is an underground facility (deep tunnels running for kilometers). No one is sure that the safety of Idukki Dam and the fertility of one of the most productive farm lands in Theni District that lie above this facility in this seismic prone zone are given due consideration while finailising the location. This project has been relocated more than twice due to opposition by local communities in earlier instances. This work is worth investigation by all concerned before it goes ahead and huge sums are invested that becomes an alibi for the authorities to claim that the project can't be stopped now.
The greens and the environmentalists’ movement against nuclear plants though welcome must be weighed against the choices we have from other sources. Solar though attractive is not an economically feasible option currently. With concerns about monsoon vagaries hydro power is at its optimum generation currently. We cannot depend on fossil fuels or coal given the limited availability and their well known impact on global warming. China to circumvent this situation and maintain substantial power to spur its developmental goals is in the process of adding over a hundred nuclear plants by 2030.
Accidents to date have occurred in the aging nuclear installations. However newer technologies have made nuclear plants not only more efficient and safer but can recycle spent nuclear waste safely. Nuclear energy may not be entirely safe but for India the alternative choices are limited if it has sustain its growth and deliver a better life to the citizens. Scare stories about nuclear plants are not the answer.
It is absolutely not understandable that India is planing to put about 25 atomic reactors in action, where´as in Germany the govt. had to pass a law to stop the nuclear plants running after 2022. The atomic plants here are without doubt in best conditions. But evry one knows that an accident can never be 100% avoided. And a nuclear accident can cause damages which can never be repaired. The agitaion going on here against atomic energy succeeded after almost 30 years. As alternative Germany is now investing in ecological energy resources: wind, sun and water. A country like India with so much sun, wind and water does not need at all any other source of energy. One can be sure that if due investments were undertaken, only the sun-energy could put India in a very strong position. It will be worth it, if the govt. of India - and press media - would study the the facts and figures why Germans are shutting down their atomic plants. the grounds would be valid for other countries too.
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