Lesson of Kudankulam Protests

COMMUNICATION

The recent mass protests against the Kudan-kulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu should convince the government of the need to seriously consider the implications of similar protests taking place in other areas where other nuclear plants are being located. By all accounts the recent protests are genuine, broad-based protests of people who firmly believe that to protect their life and livelihoods as well as to protect the ecology of their area they should do all they can to stop the nuclear plant. The willingness of the people to courageously face police lathis also indicates the firm determination of the affected people.

At the time of writing this note (September 11), there are reports that tension has spread to many other coastal villages of this region. On September 10 the agitation spilled over to the neighbouring Tuticorin district where one fisherman was killed in police firing.

While some violence may have taken place in recent clashes with the police, on the whole this movement has a well-established long record of peaceful protests. In fact it is only when peaceful and democratic protests are not heard for a long time that possibilities of violence are created.

The government has decided to go in for a rapid spread of new nuclear plants. However, not only the people of nearby villages but in addition many independent and reputed scientists as well as other experts have protested against this. Even very senior persons who in the past have occupied top positions in the nuclear and defence establishments have critiqued the recent changes in India’s nuclear programme following the Indo-American nuclear agreement. On the one hand there is increasing concern over the inherent high risks of nuclear energy. On the other hand there are concerns relating to the new nuclear policy giving up the earlier path based on self-reliance. From the point of view of the affected commu-nities, particularly those in the rural areas, the recent changes including the proliferation of nuclear plants planned in coastal areas, will bring very heavy risks for them as well for the sensitive coastal ecology.

To avoid several such confrontations in future, the government should undertake a sincere and honest review of its nuclear power programme. Nuclear energy is a high-risk, high-hazard energy which should at best get only a very small share in the overall energy programme and should also be based on the strategy of self-reliance.

Bharat Dogra
C-27 Raksha Kunj,
Paschim Vihar
New Delhi- 110063