Kudankulam nuclear power project cleared, govt steps on throttle

CHENNAI: A day after the state cabinet cleared the controversial Kudankulam nuclear power project in Tirunelveli, the government began moving ahead at full throttle to have the plant up and running by August.
　
As part of its strategy to hasten work while avoiding a confrontation with activists protesting against the project - which the government now sees as vital to dealing with its energy crisis - police contingents have been deployed on all approaches to the site. Section 144 of the CrPC has been clamped to prohibit protesters from rallying, and checkposts have been set up in surrounding villages. Police teams have been stationed at Thomas Mandapam, from where the Kudankulam main road branches off to Idinthakkarai, 2km from the plant and the focal point of the protests, to cut off the village. At Idinthakkarai, 15 protesters, including People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy coordinator S P Udayakumar and convener M Pushparayan, have started a hunger strike since noon on Monday. The protesters, who have gathered in the village, are aware that the police are waiting for them to make a mistake. "Please do not stray out of the village as the police are waiting for us to venture out," an activist announced as villagers queued up for a frugal meal of dal and rice. The police are playing a waiting game, cordoning off the plant and counting on the summer heat to drain the resolve of the protestors. Senior police officers said the protest fast would not pose a threat to activity at the plant. "As long as the hunger fasts remain peaceful, we will have no problem," said additional director-general of police (law and order) S George, who visited Kudankulam on Tuesday. Sources said the authorities are carrying out a propaganda campaign to create a rift between the local people and frontline protesters. South zone IG Rajesh Das told mediapersons that he had information that villagers were getting restive and were likely to ask outsiders to leave their villages. The police have so far arrested only protesters who tried to obstruct workers from entering the plant. The government is obviously keen to avoid a showdown with the fishing community. "Any police action against fishermen can quickly spiral out of control," said another police officer. Udayakumar said people are moving into Idinthakkarai by boat despite the curfew. "But there could be public health problems and food shortage in a few days here in Idinthakkarai," he said.