New Delhi:
The country's nuclear watchdog has said more security checks are needed for the atomic plant at Kudankulam. That contradicts to some extent the all-clear signal given to the plant by the union government and atomic experts.
The assessment of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board is likely to bolster the activists and villagers who have been protesting against the nuclear plant, being set up at a cost of 13,000 crore. Two nuclear reactors were scheduled to be commissioned within the next few months, and were expected to significantly reduce the severe electricity problems in Tamil Nadu.
The head of the regulatory board, Dr S S Bajaj, has told NDTV that though the reactors at Kudankulam have a robust design, additional safety measures are desirable. Based on the disaster at Fukushima in Japan in March this year, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board wants a better system to prevent a power failure at the plant, and a larger supply of fresh water for emergency cooling.
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India which is in charge of all nuclear plants in the country has said that the Kudankulam project is designed to withstand earthquakes and tsunamis, and has been cleared by international expert bodies.
"Our culture at the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited is that we accept and comply with the recommendations of the regulators, additional diesel generating sets and additional water will be provided and a road map on how that will be implemented has been prepared," said Kashinath Balaji, the head of Kudankulam nuclear complex
Protests over safety concerns have stalled work on the project for over a month now, leading to concerns about deadlines being missed for the reactors. Anti-nuclear activists want the power plant to be shut down and converted to a gas-based power plant.
Former President and one of the country's top scientists APJ Abdul Kalam is among those who have declared the nuclear plant meets all required safety standards. Mr Kalam visited the plant five days ago and suggested a 10-point development plan for the people of the area.
The Prime Minister has assured Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa that all security concerns of residents will be addressed.