N-plant: former Union Energy Secretary raises safety concerns

February 01, 2017 12:16 am | Updated 12:16 am IST

Former Union Energy Secretary E.A.S. Sarma addressing a conference on Kovvada atomic power plant in Srikakulam on Tuesday.

Former Union Energy Secretary E.A.S. Sarma addressing a conference on Kovvada atomic power plant in Srikakulam on Tuesday.

SRIKAKULAM: Former Union Energy Secretary E.A.S. Sarma on Tuesday expressed his apprehensions over the safety of the atomic power plant proposed at Kovvada in the district at an estimated cost of ₹1.8 lakh crore with an initial installed capacity to generate 6,000 MW.

Should anything go wrong, the impact would be felt up to 300 km, he said while speaking at a conference organised by several organisations, including the CITU, here.

Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, and Chatrapur in Odisha would face serious consequences because of radiation effect, he feared.

Mr. Sarma said that as per the clauses accepted during talks with the U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Corporation, which would supply reactors, the Government of India would be responsible for the safety of the people.

“The government will have to pay compensation to every victim in case of an accident and the supplier of the reactor has no responsibility after construction of the project,” he said.

Forum for Better Visakhapatnam representative Rani Sarma said that India was opting for atomic power when many countries were keen on closing down such power projects.

CITU state vice-president D. Govinda Rao said that the issue should not be seen as one pertaining to just people of Kovvada as the repercussions of an accident would have to be faced by many.

“We have appointed village-level committees to intensify the agitation. We seek the support of the people living in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram too,” he added.

AP Human Rights Forum vice-president K.V. Jagannatha Rao called upon all non-governmental organisations to join hands for the protection of human rights.

Paryavarana Parirakshana Samiti president K. Ramam alleged that the social impact survey was not done properly.

CITU leaders P. Tejeswara Rao and Ch. Ammannaidu spoke.

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