Kovvada plant benefits only the U.S., say Left leaders

Leaders of Left parties during an awareness drive in Kovvada against the atomic plant.- Photo: Basheer

Left parties and human rights groups will conduct awareness camps opposing the proposed Kovvada atomic power plant in Srikakulam district, even as the district administration is understood to have intensified efforts to garner the support of local residents for the project.

Recently, senior district officials, including Collector P. Lakshmi Narasimham, organised a public meeting on the project. Following the “positive” response to its first-ever meeting, the district administration now plans to conduct panchayat-level meetings to explain the government’s packages and benefits associated with the atomic power to the nation.

The government meetings irked the Left parties which, in turn, intensified its efforts to mobilise support for long-term agitations opposing the project. The Left parties, including CPI (Marxist), CPI (ML) new Democracy and CPI (ML) Liberation, organised public meetings from May 7 to 10 in Ranasthalam mandal.

CPI (M) senior leaders Chowdary Tejeswara Rao and Bhaviri Krishna Murthy and CITU district general secretary D. Govinda Rao various mandals and asked people not to be misled by the so-called government packages. More awareness camps are planned towards the end of May to highlight that the project only benefits the United States and other countries which provide equipment for its construction.

“The US is not constructing new atomic power plants, but it wants to dump its old technology. France has also reduced dependence on atomic power plant considerably after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan. But the Indian government is keen to set up nuclear project in Kovvada while hiding its impact on environment. It will make thousands of people homeless in future as the government would vacate many villages in a phased manner,” said Mr. Krishna Murthy and Mr. Govinda Rao.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) Project Director of Kovvada plant GV Ramesh said people ÇOULD live without any difficulty after one kilometre radius of the project. “Only atomic power can meet the electricity requirements of the country. Moreover Kovvada project will be built with safe technology. So people don’t need to worry about the pollution and nuclear disasters,” he said.

It will make thousands of people homeless in future as the government would vacate many villages in a phased manner, say Left party leaders