Curfew imposed at Kudankulam N-Plant

 

Situation in and around Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) remained tense since Monday morning, after the Tirunelveli district administration has imposed curfew within the plant's seven-km radius. The decision comes after the anti-nuclear protesters have threatened to siege the plant. Meanwhile, fishermen from 44 villages in and around the district have decided not to venture into the sea to show their support to protestors.

The new development comes at a time, when the Plant is ready to commission its production from next month.

Tirunelveli Collector C Samayamoorthy stated that the curfew would be in force till March 10 and it comes in the wake of announcement of People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), who are protesting against to the commissioning of the nuclear plant.

"CrPC Section 144 is invoked from March 10 to April 9 in Kudankulam, Vijayapathi, Irukanthurai, Udayathur and Chettikulam villages falling within the seven-km radius around the nuclear plant in Radhapuram taluk given the present circumstances and reports of superintendent of police," said Samayamoorthy.

The collector also warned the anti-nuclear protesters and political parties, outfits and individuals supporting them, to not resort to any illegal activities.

It may be noted, the district administration had invoked Section 144 in the area in May last year to prevent any attempts by the anti-nuclear protesters to create hurdles to the commissioning of the plant. The curfew was extended till January 22 this year.

PMANE, earlier announced a fresh round of protests on February 27, but deferred it in view of the Bagavathi Amman temple festival in Kanyakumari district.

The protest date which was fixed to March 11, commemorating with the Fukushima nuclear accident day, said S P Udayakumar, who is spearheading the protest.

“The siege protest is to express our vehement opposition to the recalcitrant attitude and approach of the state and central governments and the DAE that refuse to give any information on the KKNPP and proper disaster training to the people,” he said.

The protestors also wanted to abandon the Uranium-loaded KKNPP that is steeped in grave danger with leaks, repairs and technical problems and to remove the Uranium fuel rods from the KKNPP and to convert the KKNPP into a National Model Energy Park with solar and tidal power stations, and windmills.

The PMANE will lay a siege to the harbor at Thoothukudi, to the KKNPP at Idinthakarai in Tirunelveli district and to the Poompuhar boat jetty at Kanyakumari, said Udayakumar.

Anticipating that the protesters might attempt to stage the protest violating the curfew, around 4,000 police personnel are deployed in and around the plant, in sensitive villages to prevent the agitators from nearing the plant.