The Union government and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited should not hastily commission the first reactor of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project as the components supplied by two Russian firms are of inferior quality, claimed S.P. Udayakumar, convener of the anti-KKNPP struggle committee, on Wednesday.
“If the Central government dares to commission the reactor built with substandard components, despite our stiff resistance and tried to treat the Tamils like guinea pigs, we will be compelled to intensify our agitation, as we are not bothered about personal security. We are prepared for any sacrifice,” Dr. Udayakumar warned.
Speaking to reporters during the anti-nuke protestors’ sea-based agitation held near the Anu Vijay Township beach on Wednesday, he said two Russian firms had supplied “substandard components” to the KKNPP. Hence, thunderous noise coupled with black fumes was coming out of the turbines for the past few days.
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Dr. Udayakumar claimed that top officials of these Russian firms had been arrested “for having supplied inferior components for nuclear power programmes”.
The agitators, who reached the protest point near Anu Vijay Township beach around 10.15 a.m., raised slogans against the nuclear power programme and demanded its complete scrapping and left the spot at 12.15 p.m.
Condemning the firing of tear gas shells at Koottapuli on Tuesday evening, a section of Uvari residents observed fast in their village.
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While fishermen of all coastal hamlets in the district abstained from fishing in view of the agitation, traders downed the shutters of their business establishments at Kudankulam.
Demonstration peaceful
The sea-based demonstration by the anti-nuke activists did not affect construction activities at the site and the workers, as usual, left from Anu Vijay Township to the site in the buses.
District Collector C. Samayamoorthy, who had camped at Radhapuram Travellers’ Bungalow, was monitoring the situation since morning.