Black flag protest in villages over Kudankulam plant achieving criticality

The country’s first 1,000 MW pressurised water reactor at Kundankulam attained criticality on Saturday night setting the stage for power generation from the plant before end of August, and also for a potential face-off between protesters and the government. The People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) organised a black flag protest in villages near the plant, and has alleged that the plant has been made operational as soon as possible to avoid further scrutiny. “We are protesting today, we are hoisting black flag in all neighbouring villages. Local fishermen have boycotted work,” SP Udayakumar was quoted as saying by CNN-IBN. The head of the movement against the nuclear power plant said they had serious doubts over the urgency with which the plant’s nuclear reactor had gone critical. [caption id=“attachment_956253” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The power plant has been mired in protests. PTI[/caption] “We suspect they are trying to hide something because there are already allegations that substandard parts have been used in the plant,” he said. Power from the reactor would be increased to generate 1,000 MW and the first stage of the plant is to be synchronised to the southern electric grid with about 400 MW within an expected 30 to 45-day period. KNPP units one and two are VVER-1000 type reactors set up with technical cooperation from Russia. The project, dogged by delays since December 2011 following protests by locals over safety concerns, was given the go-ahead by the Supreme Court on 6 May. Groups protesting the opening of the nuclear plant had organised a meeting between community leaders from various villages adjoining the plant on Sunday. In the meeting it was decided for fishermen from three districts to stay away from fishing today, to hoist black flags and to shut all shops in the villages, reported the Hindu.