Kudankulam is turning into a flashpoint yet again.
The latest we have is protestors there standing waist deep in the sea imitating the recently successful Jal Satyagraha protests in Madhya Pradesh.
In fact, locations that have been earmarked for new nuclear plants – Jaitapur in Maharashtra, Mithi Virdi in Gujarat, Chutka in Madhya Pradesh and Fatehabad in Haryana among others – have also had to deal with their share of protests.
The proposal to build a plant at one of the sites, Haripur in West Bengal, was even scrapped by the new Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (it had previously been one of her electoral planks).
Today, there are 20 nuclear plants operating in India, capable of producing close to 5000 megawatts of electricity at full tilt – close to 3% of the power generated in the country.
Seven more reactors are under construction across the country.
More ambitious is the talk of scaling up nuclear power capacity to 63000 MW by 2032.
But then all this is being pushed through in an environment where there has been considerable opposition to every nuclear plant commissioned since the 1980s.
The big question is why? And if this is indeed necessary.
The protests are only gaining in strength now.
More so after the Fukushima nuclear disaster that according to a widely-quoted study could cost anywhere between $71 billion to $250 billion to clean up.
Such was the global impact of the Fukushima catastrophe that “a fundamental shift in public perception with regard to how a nation prioritizes and values its populations health, safety, security, and natural environment when determining its current and future energy pathways” was imminent, a Deutesche Bank analysis note concluded in 2011, adding that this could mean that, “renewable energy will be a clear long-term winner in most energy systems”.
But in India that logic does not seem to hold ground at least for the government.
“We are strengthening emergency preparedness and response to nuclear accidents,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said after the “tragic events at Fukushima”.
“We are determined that our expanded nuclear power programme will follow the highest standards of nuclear safety and security. It is essential to restore public faith in nuclear energy,” he went on to add.
But that is precisely the nub of the problem, is it not?
How do you restore public faith in nuclear energy?
After all, isn’t it all about battling the fear of that one fatal accident that could happen in the future? How do you allay such an overarching fear?
By simply saying that our reactors, despite being man made, are 100% foolproof?
By giving companies like Russia’s state-run Atomstroyeksport, the supplier of the reactor at Kudankulam, immunity from any possible legal action by victims in case an accident (god forbid) were to occur?
By restricting the maximum compensation available to such victims at Rs 2500 crore?
Like the anti-nuclear campaigners, physicists MV Ramana and Suvrat Raju, wrote in their article in The Hindu newspaper, “When nuclear companies are unwilling to stake their financial health on these claims of ’100% safety’, how can the government ask local residents to risk their lives?”
Once such arguments arise, addressing them demands a need a lot of time, patience and money.
It might help our leaders that the nuclear sector in India is fully government funded.
With agitations dogging nuclear power every step of the way, they have, though, to embrace the fact that every new plant turns into that much more of a challenge.
It is no more just about the plant, it is also about building a perception that a nuclear plant can dramatically alter lives in the locations and areas around it for the better.
How much of the taxpayers’ money would all this entail?
How much of time would it involve?
How many successful examples would it involve?
And then again wouldn’t one accident at a nuclear plant – in India or elsewhere – bring all that hard work to nought?
A new conventional largescale reactor, according to an article in the Atlantic monthly, may cost up to $10 billion.
Delays – caused by agitations and otherwise – only add to the expenses.
The government recently stated in Rajya Sabha that the cost of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is estimated to go up from Rs 13171 crore to Rs 17270 crore thanks to the delay in commissioning of the plant.
Yes, there is the argument that there have been only three major accidents – Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and most recently Fukushima – in what the World Nuclear Association terms “14500 cumulative reactor-years of commercial nuclear power operation in 32 countries”.
Yes, there is also the argument that they have only been almost 4000 deaths in nuclear accidents, while over a lakh people die from coal pollution every year, as the Foreign Policy magazine reported in a recent article.
Nuclear energy also remains a green fuel with zero carbon emissions
But battling the fear of a possible nuclear catastrophe is never going to be easy despite all these indubitable facts in favour of nuclear energy.
Let us also remind ourselves that the other country making a huge bet on nuclear energy is China, which plans to build 20 nuclear plants and commission 36 nuclear reactors over the next decade.
But then China isn’t a democracy.
It is something the Indian government would do well to consider before they decide to give the next proposal for a nuclear project the go ahead.
R Rajesh Kumar
yes, the government must look at other sources of energy. they are using it as a foreign policy tool too – importing reactors and nuclear technology to keep the western powers happy. not to mention the possibility of nuclear gate, which the former atomic energy regulatory board chairman A Gopalakrishnan talked about in a recent tv debate…
Dear Rajesh,
Criticising for the sake of criticising is not the option. Can you please suggest what is a viable alternative to India’s Power requirements. Today one cannot imagine the life without Electric Supply and other ways of Production of Power have their own shares of problems for eg. Thermal Power plants also produce lot of Air Pollution besides where is the COAL. Today most of our Thermal power plants are under-utilised becuase of erratic coal supplies. The next larger Chunk of Power is supplied by Hydro. Dams have thier own issues on environment, displacement of people, safety and Also erratic monsoon.
Other alternatives like wind, Solar etc.. are still on small scale and have their own limitations to cater to huge requirements of India.
If India aspires to be Word power, it will have to address its power woes as no civilisation can exist today without having power.
So instead of only being critical of Nuclear power, please suggest the alternatives!!!
The 4000 deaths in nuclear accident mentioned in the article is WRONG. This number relates to thyroid cancer in children attributable to the Chernobyl accident. Most of these were curable with only nine fatalities. The Chernobyl accident was a unique event and the only time in the history of commercial nuclear power that radiation-related fatalities occurred.. The safety performance of the nuclear industry manifests itself.There has not been a single death in public domain in nuclear power reactors accidents at TMI and Fukushima included. There have been more than 300 deaths in Karachi garment factory fire. Do we stop operating or building such factories. The answer is BIG NO. We need to build safer and put the accidents behind us some time or the other.
I support the views put forth by amitabh and sudhinder. There is a large vocal constituency which loudly tslks of the possible dangers of any action to stop and or delay each and every power project– without giving any alternative proposal (or even demonstrating a low energy consuming lifestyle!). Also why should it be automatically assumed that the overblown fears caused by deliberate misreprentation of facts can only be addressed by stopping the impugned activity. The PMANE agitation has caused a thorough review and modification of the safety features at Kudankulam –and all judicial review has resulted in a go ahead to NPCIL. It is time that the agitators accept that rest of India does not share their fears and they have to find their own methods to overcome them- not just continue with agitation.
The main issue is not building nuke plants or dams, but relocating the people to safer places and ensuring livelihood for them.
Renewable Energy is not viable for large scale consumption and will not be for next several decades. Thermal and Hydro power have greater impact on the local environment and also cause major disruption of the local population, much more than Nuclear Power. Moreover the coal reserves are of poor quality and there is acute shortages, not just for the Power industry but also for the Steel and cement industries. This is resulting in huge imports putting a lot of stress on our economy. The only viable option for power sufficiency is Nuclear Power generation. Regardless of the risks India will have to go this path.
Promoters of Nuclear Energy are the biggest terrorists…….millions of times bigger terrorists than Taliban or Al Qaeda.
Recently a Global Summit was held to find out ways to secure Nuclear Material…..To find out ways to prevent Nuclear Material from falling into the hands of terrorists.
What a Joke!
The “Bigger Terrorists” are trying to prevent Nuclear Material from falling into the hands of “Smaller Terrorists”.
Nuclear Material has always been in the hands of terrorists……People who produced nuclear material – people who transported it all over the world – people who promoted its use in Power Plants, Industrial Activity and Weapons are the biggest terrorists on earth……Nuclear Material has been in the hands of terrorists ever since it was created.
It was not Taliban or Al Qaeda that produced thousands of tonnes of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Waste that has poisoned the entire planet for thousands of years…..It was Nuclear Scientists and Nuclear Industry.
The Mega Disasters of Chernobyl and Fukushima were not caused by Taliban or Al Qaeda…….They were caused by promoters of Nuclear Energy.
Even if Taliban and Al Qaeda try their level best they will not be able to create Mega Disasters as big as Chernobyl or Fukushima.
And if they do manage to succeed the blame will lie more on people who created Nuclear Material and brought it into existence.
In Industrial Society all Political Parties, all Governments become Eco-Killers, Eco-Murderers and Eco-Terrorists………Tamil Nadu Government/ AIADMK is no exception.
All Political Parties in India and elsewhere in the world are promoting Growth Rate, Economy Rate & GDP which requires setting up of more and more Power Plants…..more and more Nuclear Power Plants…..thereby destroying ecosystems in the name of Progress, Growth and Development.
Political Parties might oppose some Industrial Projects when they are in opposition but when they come to power they approve/ promote all Industrial Projects.
Stop Kudankulam / Jaitapur Nuclear Plants in India….Stop Nuclear Plants everywhere in the world.
Development is Destruction……..Development is Destruction.
“Growth Rate” – “Economy Rate” – “GDP”
These are figures of “Ecocide”.
These are figures of “Crimes against Nature”.
These are figures of “Destruction of Ecosystems”.
These are figures of “Insanity, Abnormality and Criminality”.
Promoters of Growth Rate, Economy Rate & GDP are the biggest Killers, Murderers & Terrorists on earth.
Promoters of Nuclear Industry and Technology are the biggest criminals…….the biggest Killers, Murderers and Terrorists on earth.
“Demand for energy is rising…..therefore we need more Power Plants…..more Nuclear Power Plants”.
Who made this rule…..Which Idiot made this rule?????
Rising demand for energy has destroyed all ecosystems.
Excessive use of energy has destroyed all ecosystems.
Demand for energy has to be minimized…….Not fulfilled.
This planet can provide energy for simple living…..not for consumerist living.
This planet can provide resources for simple living…..not for consumerist living.
This planet can provide energy & resources for food, clothing and shelter….not for thousands of consumer goods and services.
People who claim that “nuclear energy is safe” should be bathed with nuclear waste.
People who claim “nuclear energy is safe” should be force-fed a spoonful of nuclear material every day.
People who claim that “nuclear energy is safe” should be forced to live in Chernobyl and Fukushima.
Claiming that nuclear plants are Not Harmful is like claiming that the Sun is Not Hot.
Height of Insanity…………Insanity raised to the power of Infinity.
Promoters of Kudankulam Project say it cannot be stopped because thousands of crores have already been spent.
A few thousand crores is nothing.
If Kudankulam Project is not stopped it is going to kill ecosystems which are priceless…….invaluable……incalculable……beyond price.
If Kudankulam Project is not stopped it is going to poison Air, Water, Soil, Animals, Plants and Humans for thousands of years.
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Nuclear Experts giving a clean chit to Kudankulam Project is like….
America giving clean chit to invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan……Monsanto giving clean chit to GM crops…..Union Carbide giving clean chit to Warren Anderson…..Rapists giving clean chit to Rape…..Murderers giving clean chit to Murder…..Alcoholics giving clean chit to Alcohol…..Smokers giving clean chit to Cigarettes.
Nuclear Experts will always give clean chit to nuclear projects……..always……. always……always.
Nuclear Experts will always give approval to nuclear projects……..always……. always……always.
Nuclear Experts will always give green signal to nuclear projects……..always……. always……always.
There are thousands of nuclear professionals working with Nuclear Industry…….If nuclear projects are stopped they will become jobless/ unemployed……..so they will always give approval to nuclear projects…….always…..always….always.
Nuclear Material is harmful wherever it exists…..Nuclear Mines…Nuclear Power Plants… Nuclear Ships… Nuclear Submarines… Nuclear Satellites…Nuclear Weapons..…….its very existence is harmful.
Exposure to Nuclear Radiation leads to….Cancer…Multiple Organ Failures…Genetic Mutations…Physical Deformities….Mental Abnormalities…..Death……For generations to come.
Industrial Society continues to spread the blatant lie…..
that another Chernobyl, another Fukushima will not happen,
that another Gulf Oil Disaster, another Bhopal Gas Tragedy will not happen.
Blatant lie, blatant lie….
As long as industry exists industrial accidents will continue to occur ……They will only get bigger and bigger.
Bigger the industry bigger the industrial accident.
Nuclear material is the most dangerous, toxic and hazardous thing on earth.
It was buried deep under the earth.
Man brought it to the surface, refined it to create thousands of tonnes of the most toxic substance, that will remain radioactive for thousands of years – and is using it all over the world.
Once created nuclear material keeps poisoning humans, animals, plants, air, water and soil for thousands of years.
Nuclear material has poisoned /contaminated the entire planet.
There are 500 Nuclear Power Plants, Hundreds of Nuclear Weapons producing sites, thousands of Nuclear Research Centers, Hundreds of Nuclear Powered Ships and Submarines, Hundreds of Nuclear Powered Satellites.
The land, the water, the air……. The entire planet has been poisoned.
Nuclear material is the most dangerous material – it should not even be created – it should not even be brought into existence.
Everyone comes to know about Aeroplane Accidents, Car Accidents and Train Accidents ………because they are visible.
Nuclear Accidents are different…… people only come to know about Nuclear Accidents which happen with big explosions. People do not come to know about silent Nuclear/ Radiation Leakages because they are invisible and can only be known to people who have access to Radiation Monitoring Equipment. These leakages don’t get reported in the media because people who run nuclear facilities are not going to report themselves – they are not going to report their own crimes.
Thousands of accidents involving nuclear/ radiation leakages are happening every day but they are never reported. Soil, Water and Air are getting contaminated with nuclear radiation at thousands of places around the world every day.
People who produce nuclear material – people who transport it all over the world – people who promote its use in Power Plants and Industrial Activity are the biggest criminals – biggest killers, murderers and terrorists on earth.
Stop Kudankulam / Jaitapur Nuclear Plants in India……Stop Nuclear Plants everywhere in the world.
http://www.envirolink.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2915
“Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment”
Mr Rajesh Kumar’s query can be easily answered. Despite (a) hardly 3% of total power production in India is nuclear despite 20 nuclear plants operating in India over last several decades, (b)63000 MW of nuclear power planned during next 20 yrs costing over US$ 60 b, (c) Fukushima accident in Japan having cost the Govt of Japan over US$ 70-250 b to clean up, (d) Govt of India claiming 100% nuclear plant safety but surprisingly freeing the foreign vendors from all responsibility beyond a few years of plant working and limiting even the local plants from responsibility beyond Rs 2500 crore, (e) Germany, France and Japan despite their past heavy dependence on nuclear power planning reduction of such dependence in the near future, (f) nuclear mishaps having a fall-out on health and safety of people, flora and fauna and environment for a long period extending over generations and (g) absence of independent nuclear regulators and expertise outside govt with risk of lax regulation and supervision leading to laxity in safety and environmental aspects, Govt of India insists on nuclear power in preference to all other green power sources because this is the only power stream that has the maximum potential for scams for pampering both the Indian politicians, scientists and bureaucrats and foreign vendors and govts. Seen in this light, like defence expenditure, everyone should be clear why Govt prefers nuclear power !