By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday told Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa that the government would give high regard to the “safety, livelihood and security of the people” while executing the Kundankulam nuclear power project.
He said in his letter that he counted on her support “in ensuring the timely implementation of the Kudankulam Project”.
“For a large and fast growing economy like ours, and given the volatility and uncertainty of international energy markets, it is in our national interest that we tap all sources of energy, and diversify our energy mix,” the letter to Jayalalithaa stated.
“Nuclear energy is one option to enhance our energy security. The central government will ensure that this is pursued with full regard to the safety, livelihood and security of the people,” he added.
Jayalalithaa had Sep 19 written to the prime minister on safety concerns about the nuclear plant.
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) is building two 1,000 MW capacity nuclear power reactors with Russian technology and equipment in Kudankulam in Tirunelvelli district, about 650 km from the Tamil Nadu capital Chennai. The first unit is expected to go on stream this December.
While safety is one concern, the fishing ban within a 500-metre radius of the power plant has also led to protests.
“I would like to assure you that the government of India attaches the highest importance to ensuring that the use of nuclear energy in India meets the highest safety standards,” the prime minister said in his letter.
“We will not compromise on safety in the pursuit of our nuclear energy programme, whether it is in terms of technology, regulation, skilled manpower or emergency preparedness. Nothing will be done that would threaten the safety or livelihood of our people.”
Manmohan Singh recalled that he received her letter on the eve of his departure for New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly session and had spoken to her the same day.
“I had assured you (Sep 19) that nothing would be done that would threaten the safety of the people of Tamil Nadu,” he said about his telephonic conversation.
There have, he said, been understandable concerns expressed about nuclear safety after the tragic accident at Fukushima in Japan in March this year.
“The central government is fully alive to these concerns and has sought, through its concerned departments, to actively reach out to local populations at different nuclear power sites and to other sections of society to ally such fears,” he added.
He said the safety record of India’s nuclear power plants had been good.
“Nevertheless, after the Fukushima incident, the central government has ordered technical reviews of all safety systems of our nuclear power plants, including the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project,” he added.
These safety reviews have reaffirmed India’s ability “to handle emergency situations”.
The central government has also introduced the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority Bill 2011 in Lok Sabha, with the objective of setting up an autonomous and independent regulatory authority that will subsume the current Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.
The aim of the board is to ensure the highest standards of safety based on scientific approach, operating experience and best practices.
“In respect of the specific case of the Kudankulam project, the project has gone through detailed and exhaustive safety reviews and clearances by all statutory authorities,” he said.
The prime minister also met an all-party delegation from Tamil Nadu Friday on the issue.