Nuclear energy is not only extremely dangerous and a toxic legacy for future generations, but is actually far more expensive than power from conventional sources, State secretary of the Human Rights Forum V.S. Krishna said, while addressing the villagers who are participating in a relay hunger strike camp at Kovvada village in Srikakulam district opposing setting up of a nuclear power plant near the village. The relay fast entered 102nd day on Friday.
Explaining the dangers nuclear power plants pose to the people and environment, Mr. Krishna said even during its normal operations a nuclear power plant would discharge radioactive materials regularly. The radioactive waste produced by a plant has no long-term solution for its disposal.
The Fukushima disaster once again convinced many people that nuclear energy has inherent dangers. Nuclear reactors face vulnerable risk and no method was there to avoid major accidents. One major accident would destroy a large area, affect a large population and its effect would continue for a long time, he said pointing out that Srikakulam, the district headquarters, is a mere 25 km from Kovvada and Visakhapatnam, AP’s second largest city, only 70 km from the proposed plant area.
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The fact that nuclear power was economically unattractive and socially unacceptable, because of the radiation hazard and risk of accidents, that no new nuclear reactors have come up in the USA and most of West Europe during the last 30 years and the US and European nuclear power companies were eying the Asian market.
He regretted that the Indian government had become their willing collaborator in this mindless pursuit and putting India to the risk of great disaster. Among those present were Mylupalli Police, KV Jagannadha Rao and K Appalanaidu.