Idinthakarai, Tamil Nadu:
An uneasy calm prevails at Idinthakarai in Tamil Nadu - Ground Zero of the protests against the Kudankulam nuclear plant- ahead of an imminent arrest of Dr S P Udhayakumar, the man who has led the charge against the controversial power project. The police had, earlier today, tried unsuccessfully to force the surrender of Dr Udhayakumar, even as it briefly clamped down on the television channels gathered there in order to avoid letting the operation being telecast live. But the restriction was soon lifted following the intervention of the state police chief after a media outcry.
Mr Udhayakumar is facing charges of sedition and waging war against the country. He is on an indefinite hunger strike in Idinthakarai ever since Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa gave the go-ahead to begin work at the controversial plant earlier this week. Villagers who have been protesting along with him for the last seven months say that they too would court arrest with him. But the police allege that the activist is using the locals as a human shield to evade arrest.
The anti-nuclear campaigner, though, dismissed these allegations. "No, not at all. I've told the SP that I'm ready to surrender. All the people want to get arrested. That's the fact," Dr Udhayakumar said.
"I have not stolen any public money. I have not done anything wrong to anybody... I am not a politician... why should I be arrested?" he added.
For many months, Idinthakarai has been the epicentre for protests by villagers and fishermen who say the Kudankulam plant is not safe. They are up in arms now against the Tamil Nadu government's decision to allow work at the plant after initially opposing the Central project. Dr Udhayakumar is leading in protest around 5000 villagers, who refused to hold talks yesterday with two local police officers who had come in their personal capacities to end the deadlock. The villagers asked the police to send non-natives (those policemen who are not from the village) for talks on ending the protests. Idinthakarai saw a power cut for the whole day yesterday; it was restored last night. The villagers have blamed the police for the power cut; they also complain there is shortage of drinking water, food and milk.
Prohibitory orders have been clamped in the area and there is tight security near the plant. After the Tamil Nadu government cleared the project on Monday, scientists and engineers have entered the plant, escorted by the police, to get to work.
Dr Udhayakumar points to the recent Fukushima tragedy in Japan to bolster his argument that the Kudankulam plant is not safe for those who live in close proximity. He has struck a chord with the villagers and that has catapulted him to be the face of the anti-nuclear campaign in the area. "People within 30 km radius of the Kudankulam plant have not been given any disaster training," the activist said yesterday. "Without doing this, they cannot load the nuclear fuel... the Central Government and the State Government would be held liable for this criminal activity if they decide to load the fuel rods without preparing the people," he added.
In September, the state Cabinet had passed a resolution demanding that the Prime Minister order a halt of operations at Kudankulam till those living in the area were convinced that they are not at risk. Dr Manmohan Singh then deputed experts and ministers to assess the plant and answer the questions of villagers. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had also commissioned her own panel of experts to study the plant. Her clearance for the project came right after an important by-election in the Tirunelveli district, where the plant is located. In an attempt to pacify the area, she announced a Rs. 500 crore package to improve roads and infrastructure in the area.
Dr Srikumar Banerjee, the Chairman of India's Atomic Energy Commission said yesterday, "The nuclear community has learnt a lesson from this agitation... and that (we) need a much better connect with local people." He said that activists and villagers should be rest assured that the safety standards for the nuclear plant meet international standards. "A clear cut disaster management exists for the plant," he said.
The nuclear power project, worth Rs. 13,000 crores and being set up with assistance from Russia, will upon completion have six reactors, making this will India's largest power-generating complex. A pair of two 1,000-megawatt reactors will kickstart production.
The protesters, mostly fishermen from three districts, are worried that the seaside plant may damage the ecosystem with nuclear waste and ruin their livelihoods.
The Prime Minister's recent remarks that protests against Kudankulam were possibly receiving foreign funding provoked much anger among NGOs.