South TN residents don’t want a Fukushima on their hands.

South TN residents don’t want a Fukushima on their hands.

A few months ago protests against a nuclear plant in Jaitapur, Maharashtra grabbed national headlines. Now a repeat story.
Over 3000 villagers are on the roads, protesting against a nuclear power plant in Kudankulam. Located in Tirunelveli South Tamilnadu, the plant is gearing up to commission its first

Screen grab of the power plant in Tirunelveli - CNN IBN

2 reactors. The 1,000 MW VVER type reactors have been announced in the final stages of an ambitious project that has been touted as the answer to the severe power shortage in Tamil Nadu. But villagers in and around the nuclear plant are on an indefinite strike demanding the complete shutdown of the project. About one hundred of them have been fasting since Monday. Women, men and even children say they have seen the haunting images of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. They now fear for their lives and livelihood and are not ready to face a similar disaster. Anti nuclear activists who are spearheading the protest, claim they have been wary about the Kudankulam power project ever since its inception. There is no police presence at the protest site itself, but there are personnel stationed a few kilometers away monitoring the situation. They have been asked to show restraint as long as the protest remains peaceful, although no permission has been sought for the agitation.
The Kudankulam nuclear plant authorities have refused to react saying this is a law and order situation and it is upto the state government to handle it. Experts say there is no question of going back on the project. This is the first imported nuclear reactor that will be functioning in India and moreover hundreds of crores of rupees have already been invested.
Globally there is increasing concern especially after the disaster in Japan and the explosion reported from France. And this outcry has once again raised uneasy questions over nuclear safety:
How prepared are we to handle such disasters?
Should India like Germany and USA at least start planning on phasing out nuclear reactors?
What about research on alternate energy sources that can meet the demands of the country?
But can India ago back on its nuclear energy roadmap after signing the ambitious Nuclear Deal?
Will the Government come forward in addressing the safety concerns of the villagers?
The protesters meanwhile are determined not to give up until their voices are heard and their questions answered.