Kudankulam: defer power generation, says CPI (M)

The State unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has urged the Centre to defer the generation of power from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project until all its safety aspects are ensured.

In a statement here, CPI(M) secretary G. Ramakrishnan said that after the accident in a Japanese atomic power plant following tsunami, a fear psychosis had cropped up all over the world regarding atomic power stations. This had triggered a fast at Kudankulam in which a number of local people and organisations were involved.

Re-certification

While a number of countries were subjecting their atomic power plants to re-certification, India was also trying to get such a certification for the new nuclear reactor it was planning to buy from France.

“However, as far as the Kudankulam plant is concerned, only a superficial inspection was conducted after the incident in the Japanese plant. It is not satisfactory,” he said.

‘Trustworthy team should certify'

The CPI (M) pleaded that a “trustworthy team” of experts should certify the safety aspects of the Kudankulam plant.

Besides, both the Atomic Energy Commission and Nuclear Power Corporation should set up all the safety measures. “In addition, this atomic power plant should be brought under the Nuclear Liability Bill”.

Livelihood aspect

“Also, the government should convince the public that their livelihood will not be affected because of the plant. Till these things are completed, commencement of power generation should be deferred”, he said.