[Reader-list] Call to re-engineer N-plant to run on gas

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TODAY'S PAPER » NATIONAL » KERALA
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, March 17, 2012
Call to re-engineer N-plant to run on gas
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article3005301.ece
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

A group of anti-nuclear campaigners returning from Kudankulam after a
mass protest against the nuclear power plant on Thursday, has urged
the Union government to scrap the project and re-engineer it to run on
natural gas.

Addressing the media here on Friday, Justice B.G. Kolse Patil, former
judge of the Mumbai High Court; Praful Bidwai, columnist and
researcher; V.T. Padmanabhan, scientist and nuclear analyst; T. Peter,
president, Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation; Joshy
Jacob, national secretary, Samajwadi Janaparishad, and Civic Chandran,
writer and activist, said the Indian nuclear programme itself lacked
credibility in the absence of an independent evaluation.

Asked about the huge investment in the project, they said a large part
of the project that was non-nuclear could be salvaged and the plant
re-engineered to run on natural gas instead of uranium as feedstock.
They cited the example of a similar project in the U.S. that was
converted from nuclear to natural gas.

The activists wondered how Indian scientists could vouch for the
safety of the nuclear power plant when the suppliers and their
governments were not willing to certify the units.

Mr. Bidwai said the government had failed to address the concerns
about the project site and its hazards, the problems relating to
water, and the generic hazards including radiation hazard, emissions
from the plant, nuclear waste disposal and the potential for
catastrophic accidents. “The inherent flaws of the Russian design make
it unsafe.”

Kerala, he pointed out, was much closer to Kudankulam than most parts
of Tamil Nadu, making it vulnerable to radiation exposure in the event
of an accident. “It will also impact on the marine environment and the
livelihood of fishermen.”

Mr. Padmanabhan said the Kudankulam project site was geologically
unstable. “It has a history of big earthquakes and slumps that could
cause tsunamis. The risk of land subsidence to sea and frequent
withdrawal of the sea since the 2004 tsunami are also major hazards.”
He added that the desalination plant to ensure uninterrupted
freshwater supply to the power plant also faced the risk of clogging
due to the proliferation of jelly fish.

Renewable energy

Mr. Patil said investment in renewable energy sources like solar power
and cutting down transmission and distribution losses could help to
meet the country's burgeoning demand for power and obviate the need to
depend on nuclear plants. “India has the potential to generate 35 lakh
MW of solar power,” he said.

The activists said the people's committee set up to study the safety
aspects of the Kudankulam plant was not allowed to visit the project
site. The government- appointed committees were stocked with
pro-nuclear experts. “Only an independent investigation would help to
allay the fears and concerns of the people.” Asked about the Prime
Minister's allegation of the stir being funded by foreign powers, Mr.
Bidwai said, “Movements like this cannot be sustained with money. The
Prime Minister should not stoop so low. It was a ridiculous
allegation. We challenge him to prove the charges,” he said.

The activists said the 150-day stir against the Kudankulam project
would be intensified. They announced plans to set up a women's
delegation to meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and UPA
chairperson Sonia Gandhi with the demand to scrap the project.

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