Dismissing a batch of petitions challenging the Indo-Russian joint venture, a division bench said "there is absolutely no impediment for the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited to proceed with the project," which has been delayed by protests by the locals over safety concerns.
"..We are of the view that the KNPP in respect of Units 1 and 2 do not suffer from any infirmities for want of any clearance" from any of the authorities, including Environment Ministry, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and the Department of Atomic Energy," it said.
In its keenly awaited verdict that would pave the way for loading of fuel in the first of the 2X 1000 MW reactor, the bench comprising Justices P Jyothimani and M Duraiswamy termed apprehensions about the safety of units 1 and 2 as unfounded".
"When that is so and the experts in the field have given concrete opinion more than once, it is not for this Court to substitute its own view simply because there is a fear after the Fukushima accident," the court held.
"In projects of this nature there is certainly a public fear involved. Simply because there is a remote possibility of happening of an event, it does not mean that the very project becomes useless," the bench said.
Observing that energy requirement was of "utmost importance", the bench said the government had taken a policy decision to implement nuclear energy projects for useful purposes.
"Interference by the Court in the policy decisions which are of basic importance and public importance for the benefit of the public is opposed to the public interest itself," it said. (MORE)
