Kudankulam n-power plant gets SC nod

Steps to operationalise the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant would go on uninterrupted as the Supreme Court Monday disposed of a public suit seeking to halt its commissioning with a direction to the government to submit a report on the compliance of all safety steps before the plant is commissioned.

However, an apex court bench of Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra issued detailed directions to the government on the safety and the monitoring of the plant's operations.

While allowing the commissioning of the plant, the court said that nuclear energy is extremely important for the country's growth and a balance has to be struck between the right to life and sustainable development.

The court said that various expert groups have opined that there would be no impact on the life around the plant because of radiation.

While concurring with the directions and the commissioning of the plant, Justice Dipak Misra said that the larger public interest should prevail over the minor inconveniences that may be caused to the people.

Directing the Nuclear Power Corporation of India and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board to take all the steps for ensuring the safety of the plant, Justice Misra said in the case of nuclear power plants, there should not be any lapse in operations and the grammar of their safety has to be different.