No disaster can hit Koodankulam plant: Centre
Tags:
The Union government and the Atomic Energy Commission on Tuesday informed the Madras high court that the safety measures at the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) in all aspects of technology and design are far superior than the one in Chernobyl in Russia and no disaster or natural calamity such as tsunami can affect its functioning.
The statement was made by Chempilakkal David Chacko, under secretary, department of atomic energy, in an affidavit filed on behalf of the Union government and Atomic Energy Commission.
The affidavit was filed as a counter to the PIL by G. Sundararajan and K.S. Radhakrishnan, which sought a direction to the authorities to undertake a fresh review of the project and give the people an opportunity to express their views on the feasibility of its functioning and restrain the authorities from commissioning it until such review is completed.
A division bench of Chief Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam posted the matter before another division bench headed by Justice P. Jyothimani.
Chacko said Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) was empowered to enforce safety provisions under the Atomic Energy Act in all DAE units and as AERB has been doing this in a transparent and effective manner there was no need for fresh review of the safety measures at KKNNP.
Chacko said the plant was constructed 7.65 meters above sea level. When the tsunami struck in 2004, tides rose up to 2.5 meters only and according to scientific studies the maximum level up to which tides may rise is only 5.4 meters.
Post new comment