Examine safety of two Kudankulam n-plants, shift out new units: Stalin

Chennai, Dec 19 (IANS) Citing the frequent shutdowns of the two nuclear power units at Tamil Nadu's Kudankulam, DMK leader M.K. Stalin has urged the Central government to examine their safety and also shift the upcoming units from the state.

In a letter to Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh, the text of which was released to the media here on Tuesday, Stalin urged him to examine the safety aspects of the two nuclear units in Kudankulam in strict compliance with the Supreme Court's 15 directions in 2013, noting the apex court had directed maintenance of safety not only at the plant's design level but also during its operation.

Citing media reports about the frequent shut down of Unit II due to "water and steam leakage" and "problems in electrical generator", he said such reports create panic in the minds of people living round the plant.

"When the existing Units I and II are facing such dangerous safety concerns and people are still uncertain over the protection available to their life, it is surprising that the Government of India, unmindful of resolving people's concern, had signed another set of two Nuclear Power Plants to be built at Kudankulam...," he said.

He said that due to such opposition in Gujarat, the Mithivirdi Nuclear Power plant, which has six nuclear reactors of 6,000 MW, has now been shifted to Andhra Pradesh and it was "wholly incomprehensible" that while the Central government is "responding and respecting the voices of the people in Gujarat, but neglecting and ignoring the genuine fears of the people of Tamil Nadu".

He also said that one of the directions of the apex court was to withdraw all the crimimal cases filed against the agitators so that peace and normalcy is restored in Kudankulam.

"This direction has not yet been complied with in true letter and spirit though it is four and half years from the date of the judgment," Stalin said.

He said the people living around the Kudankulam plant feel that the state and Central governments are neither serious in implementing the 15 apex court directions nor interested in withdrawing the cases and requested the Union Minister to "address the safety concerns and welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu - without allowing any further room for panic among the people in the state".

Kudankulam in Tirunelveli district, around 650 km from here, has two 1,000 MW nuclear power plants, built with Russian equipment. The plants are owned by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd.

Two more units -- third and fourth -- of similar size are being built.