July 2013 News 10 KUDANKULAM NUCLEAR PLANT CLEARED, WITH CAVEATS

KUDANKULAM NUCLEAR PLANT CLEARED, WITH CAVEATS

[Benefits outweigh minor radiological detriments', says the Apex Court]

The Supreme Court has cleared the decks for the commissioning of the Kudankulam nuclear plant. A bench of justices K.S.  Radhakrishnan and Deepak Misra, in concurring judgements, however, made it clear that the plant should not be made operational unless the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCL) and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) gave their final clearances.

The Bench said that "we have to balance 'economic scientific benefits' with that of minor radiological detriments' on the touch-stone of our national nuclear policy. Economic benefit has
to be viewed on a larger canvas which not only augments our economic growth but alleviates poverty and generates employment. NPCL, while setting up the NPP at Kudankulam, have satisfied the environmental principles like sustainable development, corporate social responsibility, precautionary principle, inter-intra-gene-
rational equity and so on to implement our National Policy to develop, control and use of atomic energy for the welfare of the people and for economic growth of the country."
The Bench said, "Larger public interest of the community should give way to individual apprehension of violation of human rights and right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. Public money running into crores and crores of rupees has already been spent for the development, control and use of atomic
energy for the welfare of the people and hence, we have to put up with such 'minor inconveniences', 'minor radiological detriments' and minor environmental detriments in our lives because the benefits we reap from KKNPP are enormous since nuclear energy remains an important element in India's energy mix which can
replace a significant part of fossil fuels like coal, gas, oil etc."
The Bench said, "To sustain rapid economic growth, it is necessary to double the supply of energy. Energy tariff is also increasing, nuclear power in the long run will be much cheaper than other forms of energy."
The Bench said, "Nuclear power plant is being established not to negate right to life but to protect the right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution." Verdict is a S. (A In ti-1,
The  Supreme Court judgement on May 6,     2013 dismissing  petitions  against commissioning of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) 'is a shot in the arm' for the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), says R.K. Sinha, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission. "It is indeed a great relief for all of us in the DAE because it has given us the benefit of the decision of the Supreme Court and it will help us in enhancing the public confidence in nuclear power," said Mr. Sinha, who is also Secretary, DAE. He was hopeful the verdict would remove the apprehensions in the minds of a section of the public on nuclear energy.
"The DAE will continue to step up its public outreach activities to ensure that the benefits of nuclear energy and the DAE's contribution in all areas relevant to national growth are brought to the attention of the public," Mr. Sinha added.