The debate over nuclear power is gathering pace, with Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant struggling with frequent trips, the voice of the protesters against Nuclear Power seem to be vindicated for now. We spoke to Mr Sundar Rajan, who has been at the fore front of Anti-Nuclear protests. Mr Sundar Rajan shares his thoughts on why India should shun Nuclear and embrace renewable energy like Wind and Solar among many other things which The Logical Indian had questioned him.
1.) Why is there so much opposition to the existing Kudankulam plant and for further expansion? There is a quote in French, Nuclear Energy and Humans cannot co-exist. In a nuclear power plant there will be continuous radiation in all forms, gas, liquid and solids and will be destroying the livelihoods and health of people in the immediate vicinity of the plant and also in Koodankulam once 6 plant start production they will let out 4,000 crore litres of hot radioactive water into sea. You don’t have to be a marine biologist or ecologist to understand the devastating effects of the marine wealth thereby completely destroying the livelihoods of fisherman. In KKNPP (Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant) it has been clearly established that there is quite a number of sub-standard components that have come from Russian Suppliers like Zio-Podolsk. The procurement director of that company has been arrested by the Russian authorities as he certified Low quality steel as high quality. These steel are the one’s that would go to make lot of components of nuclear plants in India, china and Iran. Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant is the only nuclear plant in the world that has tripped 30 times since commissioning 1.5 years ago.
Coast guard aero plane was flown too low over the protesting villagers who ventured into the sea as a part of their Jal Sathyagraha.
2.) Some have raised doubts over the protests, they say they have waged a motivated campaign and also have questioned “why have protesters waited until the plant got commissioned to raise their voice” ? There were protests even during the inception stage. There was shoot out in Kanyakumari in end 80’s and after sometime USSR broke down and the project was shelved. After 97-98 there were low key protests happening against the plant. But people’s perception about Nuclear plant changed after the Fukushima disaster. All people who thought there may be some development in that area now felt threatened that there is a monster in their vicinity and their life is not going to same. So they all came out and fought a fight that was peaceful and did not harm any one. Motivated protests is an allegation given by the ruling class that didn’t have answers to the question that people asked.
Villagers from the Koothankuli, prevented from going to Idinthakarai by the imposition of a curfew, gather in front of the church and shout anti-government slogans.
3.) It is said Nuclear power is cheaper with low carbon footprint, how do you respond? The last weapon that the Nuclear Industry has taken to save it multi million dollar profits is that Nuclear Energy is green and has low Carbon foot print. If a process has to be certified it is low carbon foot print means that the entire life cycle has to be taken, starting from uranium mining to milling, enrichment, yellow cakes and above all storing the Nuclear waste for 1000’s of years. If we calculate all these then the most polluting energy form would be the Nuclear energy. Just because there is no let out of Co2 in the power production stage it doesn’t mean it is green. Two 1000MW coal powered power plants are being run to fuel the enrichment facility in USA. The amount of CFC’s that come out of 2 enrichment facility in Portsmouth and Paduccah in US constitutes about 94% of entire CFC emission in USA. The entire process of milling and mining is very high energy and intensive process. With increasing safety issues you need more steel and cement to build safe nuclear plants that is once again energy intensive. That Nuclear energy is Green is just a Myth. Above all, Poisoned earth cannot be answer for polluted air.
Fishermen lay siege to Tuticorin Port and block passage of ships to protest the attack on villagers in Koodankulam by police forces.
4.) How much has Fukushima strengthened your argument against nuclear power? Our resolve has further strengthened. We have always been saying that Nuclear Energy is the most dangerous form that can make this world unsuitable for living being. Fukushima has proved it. A country that is so perfect in its systems, processes and all is not able to handle such a accident. With the reality of natural disasters increasing and striking our face, it will be much more difficult to build safe Nuclear Power Plants. Even today about 300 tons of radioactive water is getting inside pacific ocean and Japan does not have a clue how they will stop it. Also Japan will spend about 15 lac crore to face…
