Claiming that a 'strange' geological event akin to a hot water spring occurred on June 6 in a river at Manappad, 44 km from Kudankulam, People's Movement Against Nuclear energy convener S P Udhayakumar said it indicated that geo thermal studies in the region "are a must to ensure KNPP's safety before it gets commissioned".
In a release here, Udhayakumar said the event in the Karumaniyar river "witnessed" by locals was preceded by a loud blast and the water rose to a height of a street lamp post forming a fountain for about 1.5-2 minutes. Then the water in the circle was seen boiling for the next two minutes.
On being informed by local Panchayat chief, Police visited the spot and made an initial enquiry. No one from KNPP or the Geology Departments have visited the spot yet, he said.
The present event at Manappad and the high subsurface heat flow found at Nagercoil in 1991 suggested that the Achankovil shear zone and the region south of it should be studied in depth for their geo thermal nature, he said, adding, this was very important when nuclear reactors were being set up there.
The work on comm missioning of the first of the 2 X 1000-MW
reactor is going on in full swing after the state government recently gave its go ahead. The locals have been protesting against the plant on safety grounds.