An expert committee comprising of 15 members who were set up to relieve the fears over Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant met on Saturday for the first time to hold discussions on its future course of action even as the relay fast by locals demanding scrapping of the project entered the twelfth day.
Department of Atomic Energy Sources said that thirteen members met three top officials of Atomic Energy Commission and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NCPIL). It was held as only an introductory meeting so as to discuss its future course of action on the same matter.
As per the report from the sources, during the meeting the DAE presented before the members three memoranda detailing the department's stand and that of the protester's background data and basic issues that has to be addressed. The expert panel has also requested the NPCIL tp provide them with certain basic data for their reference purpose.
The committee members included Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Srikumar Banerjee and NPCIL Chairman S K Jain. They said that former union secretary and an expert from the IIT Bombay could not attend the meeting, since they had some other commitments. The panel has planned to meet again on November 7.
Earlier, Mr. Banerjee had said that minimum activity was necessary to maintain the KNPP's health and future. He said while arriving at the airport that since the hot run was over the Kudankulam Power Plant which had come very close to completion, it was necessary to provide with adequate cooling systems to continue in circulation.
He said that the coolant should not be allowed to rust as it shall create problems in future. Minimum maintenance activity was required so as to keep up the health of the plant and its future. Despite assurances from scientists and the state government and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's announcement of an expert team to relieve their fears, the protesters have not surrendered and are continuing their stir.
News reported by AR for Newsvision
No comments:
Post a Comment