Stir against Kudankulam nuclear plant intensifies

The protests against the Kudankulum nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu have intensified with the villagers blocking all entry points to the project on Oct 13, 2011. Around 700 of the 1000 scientists and engineers could not report for work at the Kudankulam nuclear plant, which is in the Tirunelveli district of the state, after the protesters blocked roads and stopped them from proceeding to the plant. Around 5000 of the 6000 contract workers could not reach the plant site.More than 100 villagers are on on indefinite fast while another 1000 are on relay hunger strike near the nuclear plant site. They are demanding the nuclear power project should be scrapped. The protests have intensified just a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wrote a second letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa seeking the state's help in continuing the work at the power plant. In the letter Singh told Jayalalithaa that the Central Government would give high regard to "safety, livelihood and security of the people" while executing the Kudankulam nuclear power project.
The protesters also say that they are not sure if the Tamil Nadu Cabinet passed a resolution requesting the Centre to halt work on plant till safety concerns of the people were addressed with genuine concern. The state Cabinet had passed the resolution on September 22.Jayalalithaa had on September 19 written to the Prime Minister on safety concerns about the nuclear plant.Some of the protesters had also met the Prime Minister a few days ago and were assured that their safety would not be compromised.

A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told her that the stir against Koodankulam nuclear power project would hit the state's development, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today said her government would respect the sentiments of locals on the controversial project. "As for as Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project is concerned, Tamil Nadu government will certainly act respecting the local peoples' sentiments. I will be one among you in the issue," she told a campaign rally here for the next week civic polls. Her statement assumes significance as the Prime Minister yesterday wrote to her for the second time on the issue, saying the stoppage of work at the Indo-Russian nuclear plant may hit the state's progress as it is scheduled to get 925 MWe out of the 2x1000 MWe project. He had also sought her continued cooperation for the implementation of the project, set to be commissioned later this year. Jayalalithaa's assurance came even as the indefinite fast against the multi-million rupees project entered the fifth day at Idinthakarai in Tirunelveli district. Upset by the Prime Minister's letter, Coordinator of the People's Movement against KNPP S P Udhayakumar had yesterday said if the state government was really serious about the resolution passed by its cabinet, seeking a halt to the project work, it should reject Singh's request.