Union minister K H Muniyappa said here on Friday that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured him that “there is no proposal” to dump nuclear waste from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) in Karnataka.
The minister, who met Singh at his Parliament House office, told reporters here that “the prime minister categorically told me that there is no such proposal to dump any spent fuel in KGF.”
Muniyappa, who represents the Kolar Lok Sabha constituency, urged the people to ignore “concocted news.” He also appealed to them to ensure peace.
He also said Mining Minister Dinsha Patel, based on directives from the prime minister, would convene a meeting on Monday in New Delhi to expedite the revival of the defunct Bharat Gold Mines Limited. Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office V Narayansamy and Law and Justice Minister Ashwini Kumar would also attend the meeting.
Though the Union Cabinet decided to revive Bharat Gold Mines Limited in 2006, the project was delayed owing to differences among some unions. “We are confident that all warring factions will be brought on board and the process started at the earliest,” Muniyappa said.
Total bandh in KGF
Meanwhile, a total bandh was observed in KGF on Friday over rumours that nuclear waste would be dumped in the mine shafts.
Workers representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and the Badava Shramika Raitha Congress ensured that commercial establishments were closed. BJP legislator Y Sampangi and his supporters were seen requesting the people to observe the bandh.
Later, JD-S workers, under the leadership of former legislator Bhaktavatsalam and City Municipal Council President P Dayanand took out a march and raised slogans against the Union government.
The BEML factory had declared a holiday on account of the bandh. MG Market and Andersonpet markets, too, remained closed. Buses remained off the road. Schools and colleges remained closed. Examinations at first grade colleges were held.