Anti-nuclear protestors stage day-long siege of plant

(TN) Oct 8: Launching another phase of their agitation against Kudankulam atomic power project, anti-nuclear protestors today began a day-long 'siege' of the plant by placing fibre boats and floating buoys in the sea.

The protestors, including hundreds of local fishermen from Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts, remained 500 metres away from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, demanding scrapping of the KNPP.

Over 5,000 security personnel including Rapid Action Force, have been deployed, besides five Coast Guard vessels, ADGP Rajendran, who is overseeing the security, said.

Led by People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), the protestors are also demanding withdrawal of police from the villages, release of those arrested and taking back false cases filed against anti-nuclear activists. PMANE coordinator SP Udayakumar said the struggle would be peaceful and democratic protest and assured of full cooperation to police.

Udhayakumar also said they would launch their next agitation in Chennai on Oct 29 when the assembly session begins. He would also hold discussions with the local community about intensifying the agitation.

This is the second time the protestors are laying siege after Sept 22, when they did so at Tuticorin port against loading of uranium in the atomic power plant.

The protesters had also staged a 'Jal Satyagraha' in the sea at Koothakuzhi, 10 km from Kudankulam, by forming a human chain earlier. The first unit of the Indo-Russian project was scheduled to be commissioned in December last year but had been delayed due to protests by locals on safety concerns.

PTI