Apparently buoyed by Chief Minister and AIADMK leader J Jayalalitha’s reiteration on Thursday that she was on the side of the anti-nuke bloc, scores of protesters have since morning gathered on the road “blocking” the project staff coming from outside, demanding cessation of all activities at KNPP. The situation in Kudankulam was somewhat tense but under control, police sources told Deccan Herald over telephone this evening.
The ‘road-roko’ by a section of the protesters from Kudankulam and surrounding villages comes on top of the indefinite fast by about 106 ‘satyagrahis’ at Idinthakarai village, 3 km north of the nuclear power plant, where they had intensified their protest last month.
Hundreds of villagers, including a number of women and school children, besides fisher-folk, have been thronging the fasting venue every day to express their solidarity.
“We don’t want this nuclear plant. Let them (Government) shut it down,” a protesting woman said.
Even as the ‘road-block’ by a section of the people has left the project authorities helpless, Police said there were no untoward incidents.
The picketers “are stopping workers from getting in, including those from a nearby residential quarters built by the Department of Atomic Energy for its staff,” sources said, adding, no arrests have been made so far.
In all, about 2,500 people, including technical, contractual and a good number of engineers from Russia, which has collaborated with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) to build the two ‘light water reactors’ at Kudankulam, are working at the project site with the first unit slated to go critical in November 2011.
‘Going critical’ is the key to the nuclear processes to sustain the ‘chain reaction’ that generates electricity.
At any point of time, the KNPP’s core staff of about 1,000 personnel, is always inside the plant site, as essential service to carry out various tasks in the nuclear plant complex, sources said.
It is the remaining 1,500 employees, who have to come from outside, have now been blocked entry by the picketeers. There is heavy police deployment in the area and senior officials are appealing to the protesters to disperse.
Fearing that things could get out of hand, many anxious employees returned home without risking any confrontation on Wednesday, sources said.
Jaya backs protesters
Meanwhile, AIADMK leader and Chief Minister J Jayalalitha, campaigning on Thursday in nearby Tuticorin and Tirunelveli for the October 17-19 local bodies elections, said, “our government will definitely respect the views of the local people and act accordingly.”
“I am one among you in this issue,” she thundered to roaring cheers from the crowd, notwithstanding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s second letter in a week, seeking her “support for the project.”