How Jayalalithaa gave up opposition to Kudankulam Nuclear Energy Plant venture citing nuclear scientist M.R. Srinivasan’s report

Recreation-changer: In February 2012, amid intense protests, the federal government introduced the structure of an skilled committee, which included M.R. Srinivasan, former Chairman of the Atomic Power Fee, to enter the plant’s security system. The photograph reveals Srinivasan handing over the report back to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
| Photograph Credit score: The Hindu Archives

In September 2011, amid intense protests by activists and residents of Idinthakarai village in Tirunelveli district, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urging him to halt the 2000-MW Kudankulam Nuclear Energy Plant Mission till apprehensions in regards to the plant’s security have been addressed.

“The previous few days have been very agonising for the individuals of Kudankulam as they’re underneath nice apprehension within the wake of the Fukushima (Japan) catastrophe and related calamities reported within the press. It’s only pure that the individuals residing right here concern for the protection of their households and for themselves,” Jayalalithaa mentioned, accusing the Centre of “abdicating its obligations”.

Narayanasamy deputed to satisfy protesters

A report in The Hindu mentioned that hours later, Singh referred to as up Jayalalithaa and knowledgeable her that he was deputing Minister of State in his workplace V. Narayanasamy to satisfy the protesters and allay their apprehensions. She responded that she would ship an an all-party delegation, led by Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam together with representatives of the individuals, to the Prime Minister. She urged Singh to ship competent officers to carry discussions with the individuals of Kudankulam and persuade them to their satisfaction.

Curiously, just a few days earlier, she had mentioned there was no want for any apprehension in regards to the venture as sufficient security measures have been in place. Nonetheless, she modified her thoughts as protests intensified. Moreover, the native our bodies elections have been nearing. Again then, the protests have been led by S.P. Udayakumar, who had organised the villagers underneath the banner of Individuals’s Motion In opposition to Nuclear Power (PMANE).

The next month, addressing a marketing campaign assembly in Tirunelveli, Jayalalithaa advised the protesters, “I will likely be one amongst you on this problem.” This was only a day after the Prime Minister had reached out to her looking for assist in implementing the venture. Mentioning that the difficulty had grow to be “emotive and controversial”, she advised journalists that the difficulty couldn’t be resolved by the State in a single day.

The primary indicators of the Jayalalithaa authorities’s inclination in the direction of altering its stance in opposition to the venture got here 4 months later. In February 2012, the federal government introduced the structure of an skilled committee on the venture. A key member of this committee was M.R. Srinivasan, former Chairman of the Atomic Power Fee, a recognized votary of the venture (he handed on Tuesday, Might 20, 2025). The committee comprised D. Arivuoli, Professor of Physics and Director of Crystal Progress Centre, Anna College; S. Iniyan (convenor), Professor and Director, Institute of Power Research, Anna College; and L.N. Vijayaraghavan, a former Further Chief Secretary.

Jayalalithaa had earlier knowledgeable the Meeting that the committee would go into the protection system of the proposed plant and the “perceptions and apprehensions” of the native inhabitants. The State authorities would take the subsequent step on the idea of the committee’s report, whereas one other committee of consultants, constituted by the Central authorities, had accomplished its work a number of months earlier.

Srinivasan was a type of who had at all times felt that the venture was within the pursuits of Tamil Nadu and the Southern States to satisfy their vitality necessities. He had publicly backed the venture, insisting that it was a protected and dependable programme and shared his expectation that Jayalalithaa would prolong stable assist to it.

Job performed in three weeks

The committee accomplished its activity inside three weeks. “Let the federal government have a cool view of the report,” Srinivasan mentioned. Commenting on the protection facet, he mentioned, “I’ve not taken again my phrases on the difficulty.” When a journalist requested if the committee had any time schedule for the federal government to behave on its report, Srinivasan responded, “We don’t wish to counsel any timetable.”

Concurrently, the federal government invited a PMANE delegation for talks. After the assembly, Mr. Udayakumar mentioned, “The Chief Minister gave us a affected person listening to. She assured us that she would undergo the paperwork rigorously. She didn’t categorical any opinion.”

Days later in March 2012, accepting the report of the skilled committee, a gathering of the Tamil Nadu Cupboard, chaired by Jayalalithaa, resolved to take steps for the early commissioning of the plant. The Cupboard additionally determined to execute a ₹500-crore package deal of improvement tasks in Kudankulam, particularly for the welfare of the native fishermen. Jayalalithaa, thereafter, issued an announcement, calling upon all to cooperate with the federal government. She mentioned the studies of the 2 committees of consultants and the petitions given by the protesters have been “exhaustively scrutinised”. “There was no risk of the incidence of an earthquake or tsunami, and anyway the plant had the most effective security options,” she declared.

Aid to merchants and trade

“The choice got here as a reduction to a big part of individuals, particularly commerce and trade, who’re bearing the brunt of an influence disaster, however drew adversarial feedback from activists and events against nuclear vitality,” wrote The Hindu.

“In the meantime, 9 individuals, together with two members of the anti-KKNPP battle committee S. Sivasubramanian and Ok. Rajalingam, have been arrested close to the venture website at 12.45 p.m. Although the Kudankulam parish priest, Thatheus Rajan, was additionally current, he was not arrested. Even within the early hours, studies trickled in that the police power was being strengthened at Kudankulam. About 3,000 personnel mobilised for the Sankarankoil by-election have been moved to the realm instantly after polling was over on Sunday,” the report mentioned.

After a niche of greater than six months, officers of the KKNPP have been allowed by the Tirunelveli district administration to enter the venture website. The remaining is historical past.