This refers to news reports “Radiation leaks after Japan N-plant blast” and “Indian N-plants safe, located in less seismic zones” (March 13). The radiation leak in nuclear power plants in Japan owing to the earthquake must alarm the entire world. If Japanese plants, which are built with super anti-earthquake and other safeguards, couldn’t withstand the calamity, a similar situation will mean a sure disaster of unpredictable magnitude in countries like India. Man has no control over natural calamities and the magnitude of its effects but he can certainly contain the resultant damage by avoiding things that have the potential to lead to a disaster. Therefore, India should closely look at its future nuclear power programmes and the safeguards of its existing plants in view of what has happened in Japan. The Nuclear Power Corporation needs to do away with its misleading trust in the theory of India’s nuclear plants falling in less seismic zones. Instead, it should take sincere measures to recognise the possibility of a nuclear threat.
M C Joshi, Lucknow
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