Kudankulam has turned a battle ground of non violence between the protesting local folks and the government that is forcing itself on the people, by loading the nuclear reactors for power production. In the last few days there could be none who had not heard about this small town in Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu. It is here the fisher folks are protesting against the operations of the mammoth Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP). These people live on the beaches of Idinthakarai, the sea entry point of this village, and fear disaster on the lines of Fukushima in Japan, from KNPP.

The protest mainly backed by the women folks gained popularity across the nation and people from far off came in support. But the government had been mulling over the issue for some time. Right from the beginning it looks like the central and the state governments wanted to go ahead with the project at any cost. The reasons are plain and simple, the country is drooling  under acute power shortage. But how far are we correct in finding alternatives, when a few of our brethren lives are at stake.

However the icing on the cake was when the former President Abdul Kalam, visited the plant and tested the various security measures. He declared that the plant was safe. If selfless person of that stature who had driven the nuclear mission of the nation in the driver's seat, issues a clean chit. Then it must be considered as an undeclared ordinance. Yet people were relentless and went on with the protests. This sounds, somewhat illogical, is it not. Here is where the doubts that a non-nuclear lobby from international waters is behind this whole chaos.

Taking sides is not the solution to the issue. As Kalamji suggested the government must surely dispel the fears of the people and must make them a part of the plant by giving them with surplus facilities that are sure to improve their life standards. Because as per the government the power production comes down considerably with this nil issue nuke plant. Then why not spend a major portion of this amount on their uplift, which will surely give them the necessary impetus to stand up for the plant.

On the other hand the government is simply moving in an autocratic style by getting the approvals and starting to load the fuels, into the first reactor which is found perfectly operational during the cold run. In democracy everybody is right provided the solution finds amicable settlements. If that is so, more than being keen on loading, the authorities must concentrate on briefing. Because it is people who are important to this nation and staying dark for a few hours will certainly never equal loosing a few others. Even the fear must be removed before embarking on the project. (With inputs from internet-AW AarKay)

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