Srikakulam villagers protest against nuclear power plant

Visakhapatnam, Mar 19: Expressing concern over safety aspects, the villagers of Ranasthalam mandal in Srikakulam district have opposed setting up of a nuclear power plant by the Government of India at Kuvvada village in the district.

Villagers from all 150 villages comprising 30 panchayts under ''Anu Vyatireka Porata Samithi'' yesterday took out a rally in Ranasthalam and submitted a memorandum to the Mandal Revenue Officer demanding withdrawal of the proposed nuclear power plant in the wake of ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan.

A representative of the Samithi G Kiran Kumar told PTI today that the villagers have proposed to constitute a full-fledged committee to lead an agitation against the nuke power plant proposed in 1992 by the Nuclear Power Corporation India Ltd (NPCIL) at Kovvada for which 2000 acres of land had been identified, though the process of acquisition has yet to be started.

Villagers have expressed grave concern over the nuclear power plant stating that it would cause damage to environment and affect the livelihood of people including the fishermen, Kumar said.

He said it would be very difficult for India to handle nuclear emergency as a developed country like Japan too is struggling to overcome the nuclear crisis after it was hit by an earthquake and a tsunami.

Mandal Revenue Officer Visweswara Rao said he received a memorandum from the villagers and would forward it to Srikakulam district collector for necessary action.

PTI