SC gives green signal to commissioning of Kudankulam nuclear plant

The Supreme Court on Monday gave its nod to the commissioning of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu. The SC while delivering its verdict, said the Kudankulam power plant was set up for the welfare and sustainable growth of the people of India. “Kudankulam plant is safe and secure and it is necessary for larger public interest and economic growth of the country,” the court said. The apex court also said that they were ‘cautioning’ the government and NPCIL to find suitably safe areas to dispose off nuclear waste. “Don’t commission the plant before final report on safety aspect is out,” the Supreme Court said. The apex court has issued 15 guidelines on commissioning, safety and security and environmental issues concerning the plant. [caption id=“attachment_754709” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, Tamil Nadu. PTI[/caption] A bench comprising justices KS Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra, which had reserved the verdict following marathon arguments in the last three months, delivered its judgement. A batch of petitions was filed by anti-nuclear activists challenging the project on the ground that safety measures recommended for the plant by an expert body have not been put in place. They also raised various questions pertaining to the disposal of nuclear waste, the plant’s impact on the environment and the safety of people living nearby, besides other issues linked to the controversial plant. The Centre, Tamil Nadu government and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd, which operates the plant, had refuted all the allegations on safety and security aspects. They had submitted that the plant is completely safe and can withstand any kind of natural disaster and external terrorist attack. The bench, on the first date of hearing on 13 September last, had refused to stay the loading of fuel for the plant but had agreed to examine the risk associated with the project, saying the safety of people in its vicinity is its key concern. With PTI inputs