New Delhi:
Declaring the Kudankulam nuclear plant 'absolutely safe', India's Environment Minister Jayanti Natarajan told NDTV that it is fully compliant with environmental norms.
Stressing that the plant poses no danger to the residents, Ms Natarajan said all conditions imposed at the time of environment clearance are being "scrupulously" followed.
"I believe the 7 degree centigrade water release, as prescribed in the clearance will not harm fish, marine life or people living around the plant," Ms Natarajan said. "However, if there are still concerns, we can order a review on temperature of effluent water release," she added.
Ms Natarajan added a new environment impact assessment was not necessary at this point. In an ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court, lawyer Prashant Bhushan had argued that the Kudankulam nuclear plant violated environment guidelines and that it would endanger the lives of people living near the plant.
Ms Natarjan said "Kudankulam plant will not harm fish, marine life or the people living around the plant."
India is on the verge of commissioning the first 1000 MW nuclear reactor at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu, made with Russian technology. According to the Indian nuclear watch dog, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, enriched fuel loading has begun in the plant and it should be generating electricity in a matter of weeks. When both the units are ready, they can together supply electricity to at least 200 million homes, says Ratan Kumar Sinha, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. Mr Sinha says this attempted siege on the plant by anti-nuclear protesters is uncalled for.
The Supreme Court has said that it will not hesitate in stopping the work at Kudankulam nuclear power plant if it finds that safety measures at the plant in Tamil Nadu are unsatisfactory. The court made these observations while hearing an appeal against the Madras High Court order that allowed fuel loading at the plant.