Dr Monika Koul
The good news is that Kudankulum Nuclear Power Plant is all set to be commissioned and is ready to generate power. Tamil Nadu Power woes will soon be a history and power crisis all over the state may come to an end. Hours of power cut that result in loss of productivity and revenue generation will be a thing of past. Yet, there is hue and cry over its commissioning. Political parties and some vested interests have started lobbying against the government and are raising slogans and creating ruckus. The question that needs to be addressed is: Why is there so much antagonism towards the Indian Nuclear Policy and why people in India people are so anti-nuke when it is going to solve the energy crisis which country is challenged with? Many people and several NGOs are spreading various misconceptions against the technology and blaming it as a persistent threat to the adjoining ecosystems that are in vicinity of the plant. Fishermen are being misinformed and misled regarding the possible health hazards of nuclear radiations and their impact on health. Supreme Court of India has already looked into opponents view and their concerns over the Nuclear Power Plant and the bench has already given their verdict in favour of the power plant. The skeptics and apprehensions regarding the technology have been debated and discussed over at length. The experts of nuclear technology, scientists, policy makers, Non-government organizations and representatives of public have extensively deliberated on the topic at various platforms. There is no conclusive opinion and there are no scientific data to support that the nuclear energy generated from this plant or the plant per se is not safe. Yet, people are being carried away by false propaganda regarding the issue and are set to again demand the closure of the plant.
Are our actions justified? Are we a bunch of illiterate people who can be misled by anybody? In a Democracy like India aren’t we responsible for our actions as well. Is it alright to stop anything coming in India because public is not well informed and do not participate and help in informed decision making? Why are we always anti-technology? Why can’t we weigh all the pros and cons of technology and decide what we want. Today, India is seen as a global leader. Other nations are looking at India as a future destination of investment. We need more jobs for youth, better infrastructure for industry and electricity is a big issue in front of us. Tamil Nadu is seen as a potential state to attract investors and Kudankumum Power Plant is an answer to many problems that the state is facing. Extensive Environment Impact Assessment has been carried out in the area and the summary statement and EIA report has clearly recommended the project to be safe and given environmental clearance to it. We have to understand that construction of the project started 24 years earlier with a joint collaboration with the then USSR, now Russia. It has been 24 years of scientific and technological inputs that have gone to make the dream project into reality. Thousands of scientists and technologists have studied minutest details of the plant….right from the design, sight selection, the mechanics and physics involved and many other details. Scientists and experts have been consulted at each and every step of execution, fuel testing, study of chemical reactions involved and other attributes. Dr A.P. J. Abdul Kalam the missile man of India and a great nuclear scientist has been giving public lectures regarding its safety and clearly pointed out that arguments against the plant have no scientific credibility. International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) has declared this plant as one of the safest in the world and vouches for its design and expected delivery. VVER reactor used in this plant belongs to the most advanced family of Advanced Pressure water reactors (PMRs). It is also seen as one of the best sources of non-conventional energy sources at present as the net emissions of green house gases (GHGs) is going to be highly reduced in comparison to Thermal Power Plants. It will also help country to abide by the recommendations of Kyoto Protocol and hence help the environment and boost the economy.
It is important to bring to the public notice that a 15 member expert Group represented by scientists, State Government nominees and 4 representatives of the peoples group analyzed the various attributes of the project and have firmly concluded that there are no health risks and hazards involved. After the Fukoshima Nuclear Accident in Japan, there is an increased concern over any accident and its impact on people, biodiversity and natural resources. The committee has clearly stated that the previous nuclear accidents were not because of the plants as such but because of the faulty design of the equipments and designs. Besides, if we go by statistics, the casualties or deaths due to nuclear accidents has been very low and almost negligible till date. More deaths occur due to road accidents in many states of India. However, the point of debate still is that can we afford to say no to this technology at this hour. The answer is categorical ”No”. None of the technologies can come without a risk. We have to get to basic economics and do a cost benefit analysis- some serious auditing.
The requirement of power is increasing and we have a deficit that is a serious stumbling block in the progress of our nation. It holds a great promise….we cannot wait to take decision in favour of that is unseen. That many people presume can happen. It is the time to welcome Kudankulum with open arms and harvest the benefits or we shall again lose an opportunity.
(The author is Assistant Professor Hans Raj College, University of Delhi)
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