HC dismisses plea against operation of Kalpakkam atomic plant

The Madras High Court today dismissed a petition seeking a direction to restrain the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) authorities from running units 1 and 2 of Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) in Kalpakkam near here without implementing safety measures.
First Bench comprising Chief Justice Rajesh Kumar Agrawal and Justice M Sathyanarayanan dismissed the petition by one M Vetriselvan, holding that safety measures recommended by the NPCIL's Task Force report were in place.
"The petition proceeds on the footing that as if everything is not in order whereas NPCIL CMD coupled with the information obtained by the petitioner himself by invoking the RTI Act would disclose that the safety measures are in place and are being taken to ensure the proper functioning of the units," he said.

The petitioner, citing reports of radiation suffered by some employees of MAPS in 1999 and 2001 and 2002, raised questions about the storage of spent fuel and claimed no action had been taken on the Task Force's March 2011 report which made 12 short and eight long-term recommendations in the wake of Fukushima nuclear plant accident in Japan.
Rejecting the contention that no action had been taken on the task force's report, Additional Solicitor General P Wilson said the MAPS had proposed an action plan for implementation of the recommendations in a time-bound manner and compliance report on the action taken were being filed with AERB.

He also submitted that in so far as the spent fuel was concerned the facility was operated strictly in accordance with AERB guidelines.
In their order, the bench said, "This court is of the opinion that the apprehension of the petitioner is unfounded... This court hopes and trusts, in the event of unforeseen mishap or disaster, all measures are in place and all respondents are directed to ensure that all safety mechanism are in place.