Chennai:
The Madras High Court has given its nod for the commissioning of the Kudankulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelvelli district. Passing its order on a PIL challenging the environment clearance given in 1989 by the Centre, the court said there's no impediment against the first and second reactors.
Taking a leaf out of former President Abdul Kalam's recommendations, the court has also directed the Tamil Nadu government to set up quality schools affiliated with CBSE and state board in and around Kudankulam along with multi-speciality hospital, a port with cold storage facility and other key infrastructure for the fishing community. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) should also conduct offshore safety drills involving local people; it should rope in the state government and the district administration for this.
A bench of the Madras High Court also dismissed a petition that had challenged the clearance given by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for loading nuclear fuel. The bench gave its go ahead for the same. The judges observed that the court doesn't have the expertise in this matter and it cannot suspect the AERB's expertise. However the court has directed the AERB to scrupulously ensure that all the 17 safety recommendations made by the task force, post Fukushima tragedy be complied with as committed to the court. Only six of the 17 recommendations have been implemented so far.
The court accepted the NPCIL's argument that these pending safety measures are done only as a matter of abundant precaution and that they will be implemented in due course. The counsel for NPCIL, Mr Krishna Srinivasan told NDTV that "the order vindicates NPCIL's stand and all the remaining eleven safety recommendations will be implemented in short and long term ".
The counsel for petitioners Mr Radhakrishnan told NDTV that "we would move the Supreme Court and hope the apex court will step in". Villagers at Kudankulam the ground zero of the anti-nuclear protests are disappointed. The face of the movement Mr SP Udhayakumar says, "We will challenge this in the Supreme Court and would also take it to the people's court in a big way".
Kudankulam Nuclear Project is the first nuclear reactor to near commissioning after the Fukushima disaster, which triggered a fresh wave of protests over the last one year. Local people, mostly fishermen are demanding abandoning of the project citing the Russian reactors are untested and unsafe and would threaten their livelihood.
However two committees set up by the central and state governments claim the plant to be safe and public fear unfounded. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms Jayalalithaa who had earlier opposed the project and demanded halting of work till public fears are allayed made a U turn following the reports by these two committees. Tamil Nadu is reeling under severe power shortage and Ms Jayalalithaa had also asked the Centre to allot the entire power produced by the plant to the state.
The protests at Kudankulam had earlier crippled work at the plant and delayed its commissioning by almost a year.
Taking a leaf out of former President Abdul Kalam's recommendations, the court has also directed the Tamil Nadu government to set up quality schools affiliated with CBSE and state board in and around Kudankulam along with multi-speciality hospital, a port with cold storage facility and other key infrastructure for the fishing community. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) should also conduct offshore safety drills involving local people; it should rope in the state government and the district administration for this.
A bench of the Madras High Court also dismissed a petition that had challenged the clearance given by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for loading nuclear fuel. The bench gave its go ahead for the same. The judges observed that the court doesn't have the expertise in this matter and it cannot suspect the AERB's expertise. However the court has directed the AERB to scrupulously ensure that all the 17 safety recommendations made by the task force, post Fukushima tragedy be complied with as committed to the court. Only six of the 17 recommendations have been implemented so far.
The court accepted the NPCIL's argument that these pending safety measures are done only as a matter of abundant precaution and that they will be implemented in due course. The counsel for NPCIL, Mr Krishna Srinivasan told NDTV that "the order vindicates NPCIL's stand and all the remaining eleven safety recommendations will be implemented in short and long term ".
The counsel for petitioners Mr Radhakrishnan told NDTV that "we would move the Supreme Court and hope the apex court will step in". Villagers at Kudankulam the ground zero of the anti-nuclear protests are disappointed. The face of the movement Mr SP Udhayakumar says, "We will challenge this in the Supreme Court and would also take it to the people's court in a big way".
Kudankulam Nuclear Project is the first nuclear reactor to near commissioning after the Fukushima disaster, which triggered a fresh wave of protests over the last one year. Local people, mostly fishermen are demanding abandoning of the project citing the Russian reactors are untested and unsafe and would threaten their livelihood.
However two committees set up by the central and state governments claim the plant to be safe and public fear unfounded. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms Jayalalithaa who had earlier opposed the project and demanded halting of work till public fears are allayed made a U turn following the reports by these two committees. Tamil Nadu is reeling under severe power shortage and Ms Jayalalithaa had also asked the Centre to allot the entire power produced by the plant to the state.
The protests at Kudankulam had earlier crippled work at the plant and delayed its commissioning by almost a year.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
