The mystery surrounding the radiation leak in the Kaiga Atomic Power Station (KAPS) near here continued, with the district police saying on Tuesday that the authorities had not lodged a complaint even a week after the incident took place (November 24).
A police official on condition of anonymity said, “We are yet to get an official complaint from the KAPS authority to conduct an enquiry into the incident. Unless they file a criminal case in this regard, we can not on our own conduct any investigation.”
It is not for the first time that the KAPS is in the news for the wrong reasons. This is the third time in less than a year that the power station has been making headlines in national newspapers and occupying prime time in television news channels.
The high-security atomic power station, located in the rich bio-diversity hotspot of Western Ghats, has turned into a source of worry for the local people.
A series of incidents and accidents, including the unusual death of two employees in the past one year and statements by the Kaiga authorities have stirred much unease in the Uttara Kannada district.
The contamination of drinking water with radioactive isotope (Tritium) in the 220-Mw first unit of the plant that remained shut for biennial maintenance since October 20 confirmed many fears of the people about their safety.
Doubts over the safety of the employees working at the plant and those living nearby have only increased, as the authorities have not been forthcoming with details about the incident.
Even as the investigation by the intelligence wing of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India and the Intelligence Bureau (IB), along with officials of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) are trying to find out how the contamination took place and who was behind the mischief, people living in Mallapur, about 22 km from the plant, are a worried lot over the safety aspects of the power station.
What poisonous substance got mixed in the drinking water cooler? How many workers were affected by drinking the contaminated water? Who would have done the mischief? How many were admitted to the hospital? Is there any foreign hand or terror elements behind the mysterious incident?
These are some of the questions dogging the residents of Mallapur, as the Kaiga officials remained incommunicado all along with the district administration, the local police and the media.
