In a bid to highlight the need for a safe planet that now has seven billion people, about 40 babies will on Tuesday fast for an hour as part of the continuing protest against the Kundankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu, an activist said.
"While the world is celebrating the birth of seven billionth baby, we wanted to highlight that the planet should be secure for our children to live on. Hence infants aged between three and five months with their mothers will fast for an hour at Idinthakarai near Kudankulam," M. Pushparayan, convener of Coastal People's Federation, told the media.
The infants will be in the cradles next to their mothers, Pushparayan added.
India's nuclear power plant operator NPCIL is building two 1,000 MW nuclear power reactors with Russian technology and equipment in Kudankulam, around 650 km from here. The first unit is expected to go on stream in December. The project is estimated to cost around Rs.13,000 crore.
Villagers, who greeted NPCIL officials with welcome arches and garlands only years ago when they arrived to set up the plant, now say they fear for their lives in case of any nuclear accidents and the long-term impact it would have on the population.
The relay fast protest at Idinthakarai has entered its 15th day with the participation of the people from Nochikullam and Patinathapuram villages.
"The Idinthakarai fishermen have not gone into the sea on Tuesday. Tamil movie director Seeman is expected to visit Idinthakarai," Pushparayan said.