Anti-nukes step up campaign against KKNPP

The campaign against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) in Tirunelveli district got a fresh impetus on Wednesday as the anti-nukes stepped up their crusade against the proposed expansion of the project with four more 1000 MW units each, even as two country bombs exploded near the coastal hamlet, triggering panic.

Two bombs went off late on Tuesday night near Idinthakarai, though none was injured. The hamlet has been the centre of a prolonged struggle against the project, spearheaded by the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE).

While rivalry between two groups in the gram panchayat has been quite frequent with the locals divided over the benefits that accrue from the nuclear power plant, Tuesday night’s explosions have come as a riddle.

The situation turned grave November last when country bombs stockpiled in a house in nearby Tsunami colony there, apparently to settle scores between two fishermen groups, exploded claiming seven lives. The police had since then been conducting raids to seize the bombs. Peace moves had also been simultaneously initiated.

Police sources said the latest explosion indicated renewed rivalry between the two groups. “We are monitoring the situation closely,” said a senior police officer.

Even before this tension could ease, protesters led by PMANE convener SP. Udayakumar on Wednesday, observing the second anniversary of the clash that took place on the beach between them and the police, renewed their call to the Central government not to go ahead with its plan of constructing four more nuclear reactors at Kudankulam.

The meeting, attended by leaders of a few smaller political outfits, also condemned the plan to go in for the construction of more reactors at Kalpakkam near Chennai. Though Wednesday’s meeting was attended by Mr. Udayakumar and M.P. Jesuraj, their colleague Mahiban Victoria Pushparayan did not turn-up.

Meanwhile, seeking to win the confidence of the people around Kudankulam, the DMK on Wednesday reiterated that it was firm on its stand that the apprehensions of the local people over the project should be fully allayed.

A senior member of the party and advocate, K.S. Radhakrishnan, who addressed the anti-nukes meeting at Idinthakarai, said his party leader M. Karunanidhi had expressed serious concerns about the environmental issues way back in 1989.

A few days ago, Mr. Karunanidhi assured members of the PMANE, when they called on him in Chennai urging him to take up the issue with the Prime Minister, that he would send a team of DMK MPs’ for the purpose in a bid to evolve a consensus before going ahead with the KKNPP’s expansion plans.