It is ironical that cases are being filed against priests for allegedly encouraging protests against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (Nov. 17). Are the cries of despair of those who fear a threat to their livelihood an “anti-government campaign?”
Not long ago, four Union Ministers met Baba Ramdev at the Delhi airport to plead with him to give up his agitation against black money. But the Kudankulam protesters are being intimidated. We hope Chief Minister Jayalalithaa will intervene and stop the unpleasant trend.
M.J. Ruben,
Chennai
I am amused at the opponents of the Kudankulam project suggesting alternative “renewable energy” and “alternative energy” sources, as if energy can be plucked from the wind. If wind or solar energy, cyclical and weather dependent, is to be considered at the current state of technology, we can at best bridge the gap by a few MWs. Geo-thermal and other technologies are still in infancy. Conventional UMPP thermal plants, some of which are in the stage of being commissioned in north and central India, are running into problems such as non-availability of coal and natural gas, and infrastructure bottlenecks.
Power from the Kudankulam plant is meant to serve all four southern States. In the interest of people who face load-shedding every day, including those in and around Kudankulam, I appeal to the agitators to allow the nuclear power plant to be commissioned soon.
T.N. Parthasarathy,
Chennai
We need to replace our unclean and non-renewable energy sources with clean energy in a limited time-frame. Only nuclear energy can satisfy this criterion. Fossil fuel will get exhausted soon.
The people of Kundankulam should be given residential land near the catchment areas and guarantees of livelihood. But they should not demand the closing down of the nuclear power plant. They say they want to secure the future of their village. They should realise that nuclear energy is a guarantee for the safe future of the world.
Yatika Singh,
Patna
