Hundreds of protesters near the Kudankulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu made it impossible for the Union MinisterV Narayanasamy to address them. They yelled to shut the plant. The minister was quick to reassure them and later promised adding that the Prime Minister will decide whether to stop working on the power plant.
Mr. Naranasamy who is the Minister of the State in the Prime Minister's office, had been deputed by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to meet with the villagers and to reassure them that the nuclear plant meets the international safety standards.
But later when he had to deliver a speech, people started shouting at him. Before that Mr. Narayanasamy had assured that all the available safety measures are intact and they are hoping the people to be convinced and to relieve any fears abou the safety of nuclear plant.
Yesterday, Chief Minister Jayalalitha sent a strong note to the PM, asking why the government has not deputed anyone to talk to the villagers about their fears. She said that the Centre has relinquished its responsibility. The PM called her after a few hours and said a minister would reach her state today.
Protesters by residents have been escalating mainly over security for the plant. Various experts have certified that the nuclear plant is designed so as to overcome natural calamity of tsunami and is not located in a region where it is not prone to earthquakes. But reportedly hundred people are on a hunger strike.
The nuclear plant is a joint venture with the Russians and is expected to help reduce Tamil Nadu's power problem. The first of its two nuclear reactors is scheduled to start its operations next month itself.
Senior Counsellor at the Russian Embassy, Sargei Karmalito said that the Russian government is unhappy with the latest developments and they think that the protesters that are growing now in Tamil Nadu against the power station are a rather unfortunate development. And they think that it is an integral matter of India, and they hope that this problem can be settled by discussions between the Central government, the Department of Atomic Energy, local authorities and the people who are now protesting at Kudankulam.
News reported by AR
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