Kudankulam plant safe: Kalam

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The Hindu I AM NOT AN EMISSARY: Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who visited the Kudankulam nuclear project on Sunday, said he would not be a mediator between the nuclear establishment and those opposing the plant. Here, he addresses journalists at Kudankulam in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. Photo: A. Shaikmohideen 

The former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on Sunday visited the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) and asserted that there was no need for any panic as it had state-of-the-art safety features.

At the same time, Mr. Kalam made it clear that he had not come as an emissary of the Union government and would not be a mediator between the nuclear establishment and protesters opposing the plant.

“I am completely satisfied and happy with the sophisticated safety features of the reactors and hence there is no need for panic since it's only a boon to the future generation,” he told journalists here after inspecting the reactors for over an hour.

Mr. Kalam said the visit was out of his own interest. He sought to dispel the impression that the Centre had sent him to neutralise the ongoing protest. He met a group of KKNPP supporters in the afternoon, and said he was prepared to meet the protesters' representatives also.

 

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“However, I won't be a mediator since I am not the Centre's emissary. I'm a scientist, I'm a technologist. I support nuclear energy along with solar and wind power as it is a clean and green energy which is very much required for the country's rapid growth now… ” The two 1,000-MWe VVER reactors are being constructed at Kudankulam with Russian assistance at an outlay of Rs. 13,171 crore.

The former President said structural and the mechanical safety systems made the reactors the safest in the nuclear industry across the globe.

The reactors, placed at a secure height of over 13.50 metres, would not be affected even by a tsunami. Nor would an earthquake threaten them, as Kudankulam was not within any seismic zone. “The scientists have taken into account all these natural calamities before designing and fabricating it,” he noted.

While 99 per cent of the spent fuel would be processed for reuse in the reactors, the remaining one per cent would be converted and protected within a thickly walled underground concrete containment. “No waste from the reactor will be dumped in the sea,” Mr. Kalam said.

Nuclear Power Corporation Chairman and Managing Director S.K. Jain and KKNPP Site Director M. Kasinath Balaji were present during Mr. Kalam's press conference.

Protesters disappointed

However, those opposing the project expressed disappointment and anguish over his unequivocal support for the nuclear plant. The post-Fukushima scenario had opened up a global debate on the credibility of reactors. Even as many countries were taking steps to scrap their nuclear programmes, it was sad that a renowned scientist like Mr. Kalam was backing the project, they said.

“We expected that Mr. Kalam will visit those protesting against the plant and those on fast. However, after interacting with a team of KKNPP supporters, he left Kudankulam without coming to our place [the protest venue at Idinthakarai],” said S.P. Udhayakumar, coordinator of the struggle committee.

On Mr. Kalam's assertion that the safety features incorporated in the reactors were satisfactory, Dr. Udhayakumar said Belgium had decided to close down seven reactors after realising the risks involved in nuclear programmes.

The KKNPP “will certainly wipe out several southern districts of Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Kerala in case of any mishap,” he claimed.

Six Ministers replaced

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The Hindu New faces in the Tamil Nadu Cabinet: (clockwise from top left) S. Damodaran, R. Kamaraj, S. Sundararaj, Rajenthra Bhalaji, V. Moorthy and M. Paranjothi. File photos

The first major shuffle of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Ministry was announced on Friday with the change in the portfolios of a couple of senior Ministers, removal of six Ministers and the induction of six fresh faces.

Agriculture Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan, ranked third in the order of Ministers, no longer holds the portfolio. Instead, he has been given Information Technology.

The other senior Minister M.C. Sampath, who was in charge of Special Programme Implementation, will now look after Rural Industries and Nutritious Noon Meal, the last of which was till now with Social Welfare Minister Selvi Ramajayam. The subjects of two other Ministers, T.K. Chinnayya and B.V. Ramanaa, have been changed. Mr Chinnayya, who was holding the portfolio of Environment, will take care of Animal Husbandry, while Mr Ramanaa has been re-designated as Environment Minister.

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The axed Ministers were Rural Industries Minister C. Shanmugavelu, IT Minister R.B.Udhayakumar, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Minister S.P. Shanmuganathan, Animal Husbandry N.R.Sivapathi, Information and Law Minister G. Senthamizhan and Food Minister Budhichandhiran. A press release issued by the Raj Bhavan stated that Governor K. Rosaiah approved the dropping of the Ministers on the advice of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Those who will be inducted are S. Damodaran, three-time Member of Legislative Assembly from Kinathukadavu (Coimbatore District); R. Kamaraj, the ruling party's Tiruvarur district secretary and MLA from Nannilam; S. Sundararaj, two-time MLA from Paramakudi (Ramanathapuram); M. Paranjothi, two-time MLA and who has recently won from the Tiruchi (West) constituency; V. Moorthy, Madhavaram MLA and K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji, Sivakasi MLA of the Virudhunagar District.

Mr. Damodaran has been given the portfolio of Agriculture; Mr. Kamaraj, the subject of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Protection and Price Control. Dr. Sundararaj will handle Handlooms and Textiles; Mr. Paranjothi – HR & CE, Law, Personnel and Administrative Reforms and Prevention of Corruption; Mr. Moorthy – Milk and Dairy Development and Mr. Bhalaji – Information and Special Programme Implementation.

KNPP designed to withstand natural & man made disasters

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Vouching for the safety of power units in the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, its top officials on Thursday said they were designed to withstand any natural disaster, including earthquakes and Tsunamis.

“The power units in Kudankulam are designed to withstand an earthquake measuring 6 on the Richter scale… In case of a Tsunami threat, we have designed the plant after analysing data for over 100 years,” Kudankulam site Director M. Kasinath Balaji told reporters here.

The plant can withstand even ‘man-made disasters’, he said pointing out that even before 9/11 (terror attack) in the U.S., such a possibility was envisaged for the Kudankulam project in 1997 and necessary steps were incorporated.

Station Manager R.S. Sundar said that there was “nothing abnormal” going on in the Indo-Russian venture and there was “no question of danger to the public.”

Acknowledging the initial communication gap between the scientists and locals there, Mr. Balaji said, “We learnt a lesson in a bitter way” and hoped the “impasse” will be cleared soon.

Mr. Balaji said ongoing protests by locals demanding scrapping of the project was “badly affecting” work at Unit 1, which was earlier scheduled to commence operation by December.

A seven-member committee under the chairmanship of R.S. Sundar will make short films on safety measures taken in the plant and carry the message to public in that area, he said.

Asked why countries like Germany have now taken an anti-nuclear stand, Mr. Sundar said that country plans to stop its nuclear plants only by 2022, while there are 433 reactors in operation in the world.

He also said 65 reactors were being constructed across the world, with 27 of them being constructed in China.

“If we take an anti-nuclear stand, it will adversely affect the country’s development,” Mr. Sundar said.

The Indo-Russian joint venture in Thirunelveli district has run into rough weather following protests from locals demanding scrapping of the project, citing safety concerns.

The assurances by scientists, State government and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh regarding safety aspects have not succeeded in mollifying the protesters to call off their stir, which has caused a stand off, upsetting the scheduled commissioning of the first unit.

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Expert Committee

Meanwhile, the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy, which is spearheading the anti—nuclear stir at Koodankulam, on Thursday announced formation of a 21—member expert committee to advice them on the future course of action, educate the public and “interact with state and central government officials as also the Centre’s expert group“.

PMANE convenor S.P. Udayakumar said the panel will comprise noted scientists, engineers, doctors, advocates, environmentalists and specialists and would probe different aspects of the KKNPP project like land acquisition, location of Reactors 1 and 2, environmental impact, coastal regulation zone violations, etc.

“PMANE requests KKNPP authorities to share the EIA, site evaluation study, safety analysis report and other relevant documents to help us initiate dialogue with the Centre’s 15— member expert group and to prepare our responses,” he said.

Committee members include senior journalist Praful Bidwai, former chairman of Haryana State Electricity Board M G Devasahayam, former head of Indira Gandhi Environment Centre Soumya Dutta, nuclear expert Surendra Gadekar and former Principal Scientist in Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research R S Lal Mohan.

Anna Centenary Library to become super speciality paediatric hospital

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The building housing the Anna Centenary Library (ACL) in Kotturpuram will be converted to accommodate a super speciality paediatric hospital, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced on Wednesday.

A decision in this regard was taken by the Cabinet on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said in a statement.

The library would be shifted to the proposed Integrated Knowledge Park on the DPI (Directorate of Public Instruction) campus in Nungambakkam.

The park would also house all directorates working under the control of School Education Department, a training centre, seminal halls, a sports facility, a studio for school education and Incubation Centre. In view of the proximity of the DPI campus to Connemara Public Library and National Depository Library, the Cabinet felt that it would be ideal and appropriate to locate the library within the proposed Integrated Park.

“So far, such a hospital has not been set up in India. By establishing a super speciality hospital dedicated to interests of children, it is certain that Tamil Nadu would emerge as the top ranking State in protecting the interests of children,” the Chief Minister added.

The library will function from the present premises until the entire process of setting up of the Knowledge Park is complete.

Once the ACL is shifted to the new building on the DPI campus, the building that now housed the ACL would be used for the paediatric hospital.

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The nine-storeyed Anna Centenary Library (ACL) building, costing about Rs. 172 crore, was declared open on September 15, 2010 by the then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. It could accommodate 1,250 persons. Regarded as a large library in the country, the facility included a huge collection of books in different languages and journals besides an auditorium, a Braille section, an amphitheatre and a food court.

In July, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in her visit to the city, addressed a huge gathering at the ACL's auditorium.

Earlier, the AIADMK government, after shifting back the Secretariat to Fort St. George, decided to convert the new Assembly-Secretariat complex on the Omandurar Government Estate into a multi-super specialty hospital-cum-medical college.

Reacting to the government's decision, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president Mr Karunanidhi said, “I am leaving it to the judgment of self-respecting Tamils and Tamil scholars. I do not want to say anything else.”

Government urged to implement Forest Rights Act in State to help adivasis

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Member of the National Land Reforms Council P.V. Rajagopal has appealed to Tamil Nadu Government to implement the Forest Rights Act in a bid to help adivasis (tribals) who are totally dependent on forests for their livelihood.

Mr. Rajagopal, who is on a one-year Jansatyagraha yatra in a bid to mobilise Dalits, adivasis and landless people, has already covered Kerala and completed the Tamil Nadu leg of his tour on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference here, he said that according to the Forest Rights Act, tribal families who have been living in forest areas before 2005 should be given five to 10 acres of land by the Government. While some of the States had implemented the Act, Tamil Nadu had failed to do so citing the stay obtained by a retired forest officer.

He lamented that the adivasis, who formed one per cent of the total population of Tamil Nadu, were in a “pathetic” state. While their lands had been occupied by plantations, Forest Department had also taken away substantial portion through its National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. “Now these tribals live on just one or two cents of land.”

This “historic injustice” done to them had not been attended to at all. Though they were said to be living in forests, they had been forced to move out of forest area. “Thus they can't collect roots and fruits. They suffer from total unemployment resulting in abject poverty.”

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These adivasis “who are extremely dignified and highly cultured communities” had been living in highly “dehumanised conditions” due to the utter lack of sensitivity of the low level bureaucracy which kept on demanding money from them and which subjected them to untold torture.

Mr. Rajagopal alleged that even social workers were not permitted to enter the forest areas and help them by organising a movement or any such thing. “Anyone who enters the forests is looked upon with suspicion.” And tribals themselves had become informers.

For instance, 150 tribal villages in Tamil Nadu had been adopted by the Tamil Nadu police and Special Task Force were camping there. “The police should try to help these people by solving their land problems.”

Referring to the Panchami land, which was estimated to be about 12 lakh acres notified by the Britishers for the Dalits, he said 96 per cent of these lands were now with non-Dalits. “Return these lands to the Dalits by identifying such lands,” he demanded. He said he would submit his recommendations at the meeting of the National Land Reforms Council in Delhi.

Aadhaar card must for LPG refills

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has brought in an amendment to its Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order 2000 making the Unique Identification Number (UID) under the Aadhaar project must for availing LPG refills.

The move is aimed at preventing multiple connections and availing cylinders in third party name and to clean up the LPG consumer base, as the government was spending heavily on subsidising the domestic LPG cylinders.

With people not showing keen interest in availing the UID or Aadhaar cards, the move of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry is expected to increase the enrolment for Aadhaar.

The Ministry in its circular dated October 13, 2011 has announced the amendment to the LPG Regulation of Supply and Distribution order 2011. The Ministry's decision to make Petroleum Corporations sensitise distributors on Aadhaar card for availing refills has been published in the Gazette of India vide notification dated September 26.

The order has come into effect from the date of publication of the gazette notification.

The decision to make Aadhaar UID mandatory has been taken by exercising powers conferred under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act of 1955 (10 of 1955).

The amended order reads as follows: No distributor of a Government Oil Company shall supply LPG cylinder to any household unless the head of such a household furnishes Aadhaar number of each member of his or her household to the distributor within three months from the date of notification of such area.

Notification of such area means an area notified for enrolment for availing Aadhaar number. Many major towns in Western Tamil Nadu came under Aadhaar enrolment notification in June and July of 2011.

Officials of the Oil Corporations in Western Tamil Nadu when contacted said that distributors had been asked to sensitise consumers on the need for availing the Aadhar number at the earliest for availing uninterrupted supply of LPG refill.

Consumers will be given reasonable time to comply with the directive.

India's biggest asset is ‘soft power'

India should leverage its ‘soft power' to tackle its internal challenges like food security and poor infrastructure, former Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor observed here on Sunday.

Speaking to the members of 15 Rotary Clubs of Rotary International District 3230 on “India: an e-Merging Superpower”, he said he was not a votary of the term ‘superpower'. “India can't be a superpower and super poor at the same time,” he quipped, lamenting over the country's deficiencies despite becoming economically very strong.

The Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram was categorical that no foreign policy would be efficacious unless it attended to the internal challenges of the nation. And India's foreign policy could be justified only if its security, prosperity and the well-being of the people were taken care of. “Our current economic prosperity should be balanced against poverty, poor infrastructure and power shortages.” And there should be an earnest attempt to transform Indian villages.

Advocating a more pragmatic approach, he wanted India to maintain cordial relations with the countries that would invest in India and help the country meet challenges such as food security, which was assuming a very grave magnitude. “As food demands are exceeding our capacity, we may even have to acquire tracts of land in other countries to produce more,” he added. Mr. Tharoor asserted that India's “biggest asset” was its ‘soft power'. Elaborating, he said that despite having military might the US lost in Vietnam. Had it remained only with its military power, it would have just remained a bully. But it had leveraged its ‘soft power' of attracting the people of other nations through its products including Hollywood. There was even a “conscious governmental effort in America to attract people from everywhere”.

Mr. Tharoor cited Alliance Française of France, and Confucius Institutes and Beijing Olympics of China as excellent examples of a “conscious governmental effort” to attract foreigners.

At the same time, he admitted India did not have any meaningful government programme to attract people of other nations.

In spite of that, it was emerging on its own. For instance, Bollywood and Indian television had won acclaim and fans worldwide. Yoga clubs and Ayurveda units were proliferating abroad, and even Indian cuisine had become very popular in various parts of the world. He said culture could be very good instrument to improve national resources “but we don't leverage them enough”.

India should free itself “not only of terrorism but also of the daily terror of poverty” by leveraging its ‘soft power', he concluded.