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Talks to end KNPP logjam make no headway
Clean Media Correspondent
Tirunelveli (TN), Nov 18 (CMC): The deadlock over the controversial Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project continued on Friday with talks between the Centre's expert committee and the Tamil Nadu government as also the protestors failing to make any headway.
On a three-day visit to the plant as part of efforts to allay people's fears over safety aspects, the 15-member central panel met a six-member committee constituted by the state government on the Koodankulam issue here.
"Our mandate is to talk to the forum (six-member state panel) provided by the Tamil Nadu government. We cannot go on talking to the people in Tirunelveli district," K Balu, a central committee member told reporters after the meeting, also attended by representatives from the protestors.
He said the project has "much more than what is necessary to ensure safety as far as environment and people are concerned."
Balu said the committee sought to clarify questions raised by the protestors, who have been on a month long fast in the second phase of their agitation, demanding scrapping of the Indo-Russian venture on grounds of safety.
However, unhappy over the outcome of the talks, M Pushparayan, one of the leaders spearheading the stir, claimed the central committee was neither interested in removing doubts raised by them at the last meeting nor had the central panel given the documents the protestors asked for.
"They gave only a 38-page report instead of giving the documents we asked. The report did not have any documentary evidence and so we will continue our protests and the two-hour talks ended in a failure," he said.
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district, which is close to achieving criticality, has been facing road blocks due to agitation with local activists stopping the employees from entering the plant.
The Rs 13,600-crore project, whose first unit (1000 MWe) was scheduled to be commissioned in December, has run into trouble following the protests from locals.
"Any fear(on security) is not based on scientific facts," said Dr AE Muthunayagam, the convenor of the expert committee.
Muthunayagam, an expert in environmental science and oceanography, said the group had even planned presentations on six issues such as safety, radiation, cancer threat,possibilty of incidents like Fukushima here, waste disposal and trends of nuclear energy.
"Our friends (protestors) say they are not satisfied. We have not come here to listen to your lecture," he said.
Asked whether the meeting ended abruptly, Muthunayagam said, "They took our report and went away."
He said the committee would continue giving answers and clarifying issues and bring facts to the people. "We will see to it that some solution is reached," he said
Making it clear there was no need for the committee to submit a report to the central government, Balu said the panel was set up to allay the fears of the locals and would talk to the people, through their representatives.
Renowned oncologist and a member of the panel, V Shantha said, "There is a lot of misconception on radiation. Lots of studies have been done even in Kalpakkam and other areas. There is no need for any fear or panic about radiation."
However, Pushparayan said, "The expert committee was insensitive. They undermined public fear."
With the stand-off between those in charge of running the plant and villagers who live nearby showing no signs of abating, there are concerns over the maintenance required for expensive equipment.
Fishermen have also expressed concern over the plant contaminating the sea.
The atomic plant was expected to provide relief from from frequent power cuts in the state which have also hampered developmental activities.
Seeking to bring her on board, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa that no safety features will be compromised at the plant. He has also urged her to support the project.
Talks to end KNPP logjam make no headway
Clean Media Correspondent
Tirunelveli (TN), Nov 18 (CMC): The deadlock over the controversial Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project continued on Friday with talks between the Centre's expert committee and the Tamil Nadu government as also the protestors failing to make any headway.
On a three-day visit to the plant as part of efforts to allay people's fears over safety aspects, the 15-member central panel met a six-member committee constituted by the state government on the Koodankulam issue here.
"Our mandate is to talk to the forum (six-member state panel) provided by the Tamil Nadu government. We cannot go on talking to the people in Tirunelveli district," K Balu, a central committee member told reporters after the meeting, also attended by representatives from the protestors.
He said the project has "much more than what is necessary to ensure safety as far as environment and people are concerned."
Balu said the committee sought to clarify questions raised by the protestors, who have been on a month long fast in the second phase of their agitation, demanding scrapping of the Indo-Russian venture on grounds of safety.
However, unhappy over the outcome of the talks, M Pushparayan, one of the leaders spearheading the stir, claimed the central committee was neither interested in removing doubts raised by them at the last meeting nor had the central panel given the documents the protestors asked for.
"They gave only a 38-page report instead of giving the documents we asked. The report did not have any documentary evidence and so we will continue our protests and the two-hour talks ended in a failure," he said.
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district, which is close to achieving criticality, has been facing road blocks due to agitation with local activists stopping the employees from entering the plant.
The Rs 13,600-crore project, whose first unit (1000 MWe) was scheduled to be commissioned in December, has run into trouble following the protests from locals.
"Any fear(on security) is not based on scientific facts," said Dr AE Muthunayagam, the convenor of the expert committee.
Muthunayagam, an expert in environmental science and oceanography, said the group had even planned presentations on six issues such as safety, radiation, cancer threat,possibilty of incidents like Fukushima here, waste disposal and trends of nuclear energy.
"Our friends (protestors) say they are not satisfied. We have not come here to listen to your lecture," he said.
Asked whether the meeting ended abruptly, Muthunayagam said, "They took our report and went away."
He said the committee would continue giving answers and clarifying issues and bring facts to the people. "We will see to it that some solution is reached," he said
Making it clear there was no need for the committee to submit a report to the central government, Balu said the panel was set up to allay the fears of the locals and would talk to the people, through their representatives.
Renowned oncologist and a member of the panel, V Shantha said, "There is a lot of misconception on radiation. Lots of studies have been done even in Kalpakkam and other areas. There is no need for any fear or panic about radiation."
However, Pushparayan said, "The expert committee was insensitive. They undermined public fear."
With the stand-off between those in charge of running the plant and villagers who live nearby showing no signs of abating, there are concerns over the maintenance required for expensive equipment.
Fishermen have also expressed concern over the plant contaminating the sea.
The atomic plant was expected to provide relief from from frequent power cuts in the state which have also hampered developmental activities.
Seeking to bring her on board, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa that no safety features will be compromised at the plant. He has also urged her to support the project.
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