Fishermen blocks Tuticorin port against Kudankulam Plant

New protest in response to commencement of filling of uranium in reactors at KNPP

The protest against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) today gathered steam after fishermen from Tutcorin and Kanyakumari districts joined those from Idinthakarai to block ships coming in and going out from Tuticorin port. The new protest was in response to commencement of filling of uranium in the reactors at KNPP.

Fishermen ventured into the sea at 8 in the morning today in hundreds of fishing boats – catamarans and small boats. Both Port sources and representatives from the protesters have confirmed it. After blocking the port's approach channel for around five years, the fishermen are now gradually started heading back to their village.

Despite the Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan appeal, not to resort to such a protest, which would affect the Exim trade, the protesters went ahead. The port has made elaborate security arrangements to make sure the fishermen do not enter the Port.

The protest was called by People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy ( PMANE), which is spearheading the protest at Idinthakarai village, near to the KNPP, for over 400 days now. The villagers, who are mainly fishermen, was joined by their counterparts from Tuticorin and Kanyakumari districts today.

On Friday, the protesters have announced that they will siege the Port since uranium filling in the reactors have started at Kudankulam Nuclear Plant on Wednesday. After the completion of process for 15 days, then plant will go through criticality test followed by power production.

The protesters have also said that on September 25th they will siege all the centre Government offices in the state and on September 27th called for a high level seminar-cum-meeting at Idinthakarai.