Anti-nuke lobby reiterates demand for review of nuclear programmes

The anti-nuclear lobby in India has received a boost in the wake of Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s statement that renewable energy would be a key pillar of his country’s energy policy.

The lobby has reiterated its demand for a review and reconsideration of nuclear programmes in India. However, state-run Nuclear Power Corporation, which is engaged in increasing nuclear capacity addition to 63,000 Mw by 2032 from the present level of 4,700 Mw, has said safety is of utmost importance and necessary measures would be put in place.

The Japanese PM argued that the basic plan needed to be reviewed from the scratch after the disaster at the country’s Fukushima nuclear plant following a devastating earthquake and tsunami in March. Japan’s current basic energy policy envisages that over 50 per cent of total electricity supply would come from nuclear power while more than 20 per cent would come from renewable power in 2030.

The Janahit Seva Samiti and Konkan Bachao Samiti, the opposing groups, made a strong pitch for reconsideration of the 63,000-Mw nuclear capacity addition by 2032. “While Japan wants to review its nuclear programme from the scratch and Germany has put a moratorium on its nuclear capacity addition, the Indian government is adamant in pursuing the implementation of nuclear projects. We strongly feel that the decision is politically motivated and is ignoring the ground realities,” Adwait Pednekar, co-convenor of the Konkan Bachao Samiti told Business Standard.

The two entities are strongly opposing the 10,000-Mw Jaitapur nuclear project in Maharashtra in particular and other proposed nuclear projects.

Further, Pednekar expressed surprise over the Centre’s resolve to implement the Jaitapur project in the absence of any evaluation by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and also its assessment of economic viability. He reiterated that they would continue to oppose the Jaitapaur project and the proposed nuclear capacity addition in general especially in the wake of the Japanese nuclear disaster and the subsequent decisions taken by various countries.

Vivek Bhide, convenor of a committee against Jaitapur and other projects in the Konkan region, said, “Indian nuclear programme is an international scam. It is ironic why the government is bent upon pursuing nuclear addition and not taking up renewable projects so aggressively,” he said.

However, Sudhinder Thakur, eminent scientist and fellow of NPC argued, “All utilities world over have carried out first order assessment of nuclear projects in the wake of the Japanese incident. This is essential to ascertain if there is an immediate cause of concern or need to shut down the project. The US said there was no need to amend the station blackout rules, while Switzerland said it could be done while plants were operating. Japan has shut down one of its plants till safety upgrades against tsunami and earthquake are built. Korea is also going ahead with its nuclear programme.”

Thakur said NPC had already carried out a similar assessment and suggested safety upgrades, both for short and long terms.

“Every country takes it own stand depending upon energy options and the availability of resources. The government of India has already said the safety was of utmost importance and it must be reviewed. Further, the prime minister has talked about bringing a Bill for an independent nuclear regulator,” he said.