Plea for thorough auditing of KKNPP expenditure

Condemning Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office V. Narayanasamy’s announcement that the nuclear waste to be generated from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) reactors would be buried in the project site itself, the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) has demanded a thorough auditing of the expenditure on the KKNPP.

In a statement, the movement said the political parties of Karnataka prevented the Department of Atomic Energy’s move to bury the waste to be generated in the reactors of KKNPP in Kolar Gold Fields. Against this backdrop, Mr. Narayanasamy had announced that the waste would be dumped on the KKNPP premises.

If the Union Minister’s announcement was translated into action, it would pose a serious threat to entire southern Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Kerala besides “poisoning the groundwater, sea and the seafood”.

While Mr. Narayanasamy had claimed that the ongoing anti-nuke protest against KKNPP had caused an additional expenditure of Rs. 2,500 crore, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) replied to a query raised under Right to Information Act that the organisation had to shell out Rs. 4,000 crore over and above the project cost as the amount had to be paid toward interest to Russia during the construction.

As Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited’s reply was completely contrary to the reason furnished by the Union Minister, the entire expenditure incurred in the KKNPP should be placed before the public for a comprehensive audit, the moment said.

Since the anti-nuke activists continued their indefinite fast for the second day on Saturday, the fishermen of Idinthakarai abstained from fishing.