Former Indian President Kalam visits Koodankulam, says nuclear plant is safe

BY S VENKAT NARAYAN Our Special Correspondent


NEW DELHI, November 6: Former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam, himself a noted nuclear scientist, has visited the controversial Koodankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu today, and declared that he is satisfied with the safety aspects of the plant.

Media reports from Chennai quoted him as saying that there is no threat to the plant from a tsunami disaster. He further said that the reactors are third generation and they do not pose any danger.

However, the former president said he was not visiting Koodankulam to mediate between the government and the protesting villagers, but only as a scientist.

Joining the efforts of top nuclear scientists to allay villagers’ fear over the controversy embroiled Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project, Kalam visited the site on Sunday to see for himself the safety aspects of the reactors.

As the protesters intensified their agitation against the project, Kalam, a votary of nuclear energy, had himself said he would visit all reactors across the coastal belts.

Minister of state in the PMO V Narayanaswamy had also said the federal government would seek Kalam’s "guidance" on allaying the fears of the people who are demanding closure of the Indo-Russian power project. Its first phase is expected to be commissioned in December.

Kalam’s visit to the project comes two days after Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Srikumar Banerjee and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Chairman SK Jain had met Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Debendranath Sarangi and discussed ways to allay the fears of villagers.

The Centre has already set up a 15-member expert committee to clear "misconceptions" about the project.

"This Expert Group will explain the factual position on various aspects of the project and will also dispel apprehensions of some sections of the local people," the government said earlier.

India’s nuclear power plant operator Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. is building two 1,000 MW nuclear power reactors with Russian technology and equipment in Koodankulam, around 650 km from Chennai.

The first unit is expected to go on stream in December. The project is estimated to cost around INR 131.60 (over $2.5 billion).

In the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan early this year, villagers fear for their lives and safety in case of any nuclear accident and the long-term impact it will have on the population.

Their agitation has put a stop to the project work, thereby delaying the commissioning of the first unit by several months.

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