Activists seek to gather political support

MADURAI: In a bid to seek support to prevent the proposed operation of units three and four of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP), the People’ Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) is calling on leaders of all parties across the country. In this regard, it has already met leaders of the RSS and BJP and is soon to meet Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray.
Further, PMANE’s convener S P Udayakumar alleged that KKNPP purchased six lakh litres of diesel worth of Rs 3.25 crore from the Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum on seven occasions in just one month between May 26 2014 and June 27.“At the same time, it should be noted that the Madras Atomic Power Station at Kalpakkam purchased just 15 lakh litres of diesel, which was worth Rs 15.46 lakh, in 18 months. The KKNPP is yet to disclose the reason behind using such a huge quantity of fuel, even though the information sought under the RTI,” he said.
Udayakumar stated this while attending the state-level get together, which PMANE and Poovulagin Nanbargal jointly organized in Madurai for social activists across the state on Saturday. Hundreds of social activists who took part spoke on various issues like Kudankulam, Kalpakkam, methane project, Mullaperiyar, Cauvery etc. At the end of the meeting, they proposed to form a federation to take up social issues. Criticizing the central government, Udayakumar said the present BJP government is also functioning like the past Congress government with an anti-people approach.
“The KKNPP is violating many conditions laid down by the Supreme Court. According to the conditions, the hot water being released from the plant should be taken outside through special pipes, but, it is not done so. Besides, it is yet to identify the place to accumulate the nuclear waste. Meantime, it plans to operate its units 3 and 4,” he said.
Units 3 and 4 of the KKNPP should not be allowed to be operated, he urged. “Regarding this, we met Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar recently. Besides, we are also holding talks with ministers of states Pon Radhakrishanan, V K Singh and Jitendra Singh,” he said. “We will soon meet the Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray seeking his support in this issue since it is fighting against the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project which is built by the French government in coastal Maharashtra,” Udayakumar said.
Besides, the movement members will also camp in Chennai next week and will meet the leaders of all political parties, according to him.