People's concerns of displacement and threat to life in Kudankulam are based not on fear but scientific facts. When windmills invaded the terrain near Tirunelveli some years ago, palmyrah trees became virtually extinct. People engaged in the traditional jobs of neera tapping, and making palm sugar cakes, bags and other products from coconut and palm leaves, lost their livelihood. They became coolies in Chennai. But the case of Kudankulam's fishermen is different. They know nothing other than fishing. When the nuclear plant becomes operational, Kudankulam will become a protected region and movement will be restricted. The risk of cancer cannot be ruled out. So people are bound to move out.
During the anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu, Nehru promised that Hindi would not be imposed on the State as long as people did not want it. A similar assurance — that the Kudankulam project will be kept in abeyance till the locals accept it — will help assuage people's feelings.
M.S. Murugesan,Radhapuram, Tirunelveli
The argument that Rs.13,000 crore spent on the Kudankulam nuclear plant should not be allowed to go down the drain and, therefore, it should be allowed to function shows a lack of perspective. Persisting in our folly will do no good. An accident at the site will only lead to more unnecessary expenditure.
The people of Kudankulam and surrounding villages protested even earlier but they were brainwashed. The authorities turned a deaf ear to the voices of dissent. Why should healthy people be exposed to even the lowest dose of radiation? The damage done by the plant to the ecosystem will be irreversible. Nature will be the permanent sufferer. Let us look for other forms of energy.
Doris Thomas,Nagercoil
It is ridiculous to argue that we should stop developing nuclear energy because some accident can occur in future. We will have to face the severe effects of climate change if we do not go for the clean fuel.
T. Harish,Mysore
The Kalpakkam nuclear power plant has been operational since the 1980s. It has stood the test of time. We have modern technology for the nuclear plant at Kudankulam and it is unlikely to pose any threat to the residents of the village. With the depletion of fossil fuels, the world has to turn to nuclear energy in course of time.
Subramanian,Chennai
