SC asks Centre how nuclear waste at Koodankulam will be handled
By PTI - NEW DELHI
17th October 2012 08:00 PM
-
A bench of justices K S Radhakrishanan and Deepak Misra asked the Centre and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCL), which operates the plant, to provide information how they intend to transport the nuclear waste out of the Koodankulam atomic power plant and store it in a safe place without causing damage to environment. (File/PTI)
The Supreme Court today observed
that issues pertaining to health and environment are as
important as safety of the Koodankulam atomic power plant and
asked Government how the nuclear waste will be handled once it
becomes operational.
A bench of justices K S Radhakrishanan and Deepak Misra
asked the Centre and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India
(NPCL), which operates the plant, to provide information how
they intend to transport the nuclear waste out of the plant
and store it in a safe place without causing damage to
environment.
"Where would it (nuclear waste) go and what impact it
would have on environment and people's health if it is
transported to other place," the bench said, adding, "How much
and how long such waste can be stored?"
It said that issues pertaining to health and environment
are as important as safety of the plant and asked the
government and the NPCL to give a reply on safety measures to
be taken by them while transporting and storing nuclear waste.
Solicitor General Rohinton Nariman, appearing for the
Corporation, replied that he would file an affidavit in which
all the queries would be answered.
Meanwhile, the Corporation submitted that the plant is
completely safe and can withstand any kind of natural disaster
and terrorist attack.
"The design includes provisions for withstanding external
events like earthquake, tsunami/storm, tidal waves, cyclones,
shock waves, aircraft impact on main buildings and fire,"
Nariman said.
"As regards to the vulnerability of the KKNPP to the
terrorists attacks, sabotage, etc, it has elaborate physical
security arrangements in place and it can even withstand plane
crash," he said.
Buttressing the point in favour of nuclear plant,
which are facing stiff opposition by a section of people,
Nariman said there has been only three nuclear accidents and
there is no chance of such accidents happening in Koodankulam
plant as many additional security measures have put in place.
He was referring to the Three Mile Island accident
(1979), the Chernobyl disaster (1986), and the Fukushima
Daiichi nuclear disaster (2011).
"As regards to the vulnerability of the KKNPP to the
terrorists attacks, sabotage, etc, it has elaborate physical
security arrangements in place to ensure its security. The
structural design of the facilities at KKNPP ensures that in
the event of a physical attack, the structure would prevent
the release of any radioactivity into the public domain," he
said.
He also said that the project has got all the
environment clearance and there is no illegality.
The court was hearing a bunch of petitions filed by
anti-nuclear activists challenging the setting up of the plant
alleging that all the safety measures have not put in place.
Related Articles
Post a Comment
Recent Activity
- For team Rahul, it’s good politics that will yield rich dividends for poor Indians
- Incredible India! Cuppa at Rs 1,200 is Chiru’s idea of sustainable tourism
- Farmer gets wise, beats drought with micro-irrigation
- Translation to go hi-tech; C-DAC to launch ‘Translator’
- BJP's post-Karnataka gloom: Neither united nor untainted
- Hit by chit fund scam Mamata faces biggest challenge in 2 years
- 'Kiran visited Delhi 76 times since he became CM'
- Bangalore scores low on medical tourism
- Key relationships
- Car makers run into diesel dilemma
- NEET 2013: CBSE gaffe leaves students in a fix
- Jaya expresses grief over pontiff's death
- Rs 8K-crore plan for upgrading ICVs of Army
- Sleepless nights, no baths for Sreesanth
- Man arrested for attempt to attack TV host Ranjini Haridas
- Shun hatred to live with peace
Comments(11)
Add to incompetent politicians in India a set of incompetent judges. There are already about 15 to 20 nuclear power plants in the country. Why did it not occur to the judges to raise the waste disposal issues earlier. Why did they have to wait till this plant's construction is virtually complete?
Posted by Raja2000 at 10/17/2012 23:00 Reply to this Report abuse
Incompetency is not the monopoly of netas and judges. The court has not waited till the plant's construction is virtually complete. That is solely the incompetency of callous citizens. Court can take up an issue only when it is brought before it. No permission will be given to any plant if the promoter says that he will store the poisonous effluents in storage bins till eternity. Precautionary Principle, Polluter Pays Principle and Sustainable Development are inscribed in the law books. DAE, NPCIL, Narayanaswami, Kalam Aiyar, M R Srinivasa Aiyangaar, Jaya, Tha. Pandian etc are not above law.
Posted by Sankara Narayanan at 10/18/2012 08:59 Reply to this Report abuse
I think Trombay unit has a storage for spent fuel; so too is, at Kalpakkam plant. Present arrangement for spent fuel by NPCIL is to encapsulate spent fuel in concrete blocks and keep them buried with in boundaries of plant themselves. My plea to NPCIL is, ''use disused shaft of Kolar Gold mines as a storage for all spent fuels''. Transportation should not be a problem , as even now fuel is fabricated at one place and transported to other plants. Uranium is also mined in Jharkhand or Chattisgarh and prospects of future mining are there in Andhra- or, 'fuel is being transported from one continent to another even now' or from a remote mine to fabrication plant & then to respective atomic power plants- So, transportation to disused KGF should not be a problem at all. Our indigenous atomic power use, or next step is to reuse of spent fuel by suitable rework and re-fabrication that can jolly-well take place at disused KGF.
Posted by KANNAN at 10/18/2012 09:41 Reply to this Report abuse
The conspiracy behind the closure of Gold mines is clearly understood now by the people of Kolar Gold Fields. BARC selected an abandoned gold mine in Karnataka's Kolar Gold Field, one of the deepest mines in the world. It even set up a laboratory to simulate the high temperature conditions which will be generated by the wastes. But due to the presence of water, the site had to be abandoned. The Cosmic ray laboratory when they did research on KGF Mines undergrounds, they were of opinion that the underground mining water is used for domestic purposes, so it’s not suggestible for such atomic waste dumps as it could prove carcinogenic to the inhabitants and surrounding areas. already the miners are deprived of basic amenities’ and biased treatment shown to them and this will add more fuel to the fire. The consecutively elected leader has done nothing to the 100 Years Plus old mining town, now it will put a logical end to the people of KGF.
Posted by Nagaraj at 11/22/2012 18:35 Reply to this Report abuse
The conspiracy behind the closure of Gold mines is clearly understood now by the people of Kolar Gold Fields. BARC' Cosmic ray laboratory selected an abandoned gold mine in Karnataka's Kolar Gold Field, one of the deepest mines in the world. It even set up a laboratory to simulate the high temperature conditions which will be generated by the wastes. But due to the presence of water, the site had to be abandoned they were of opinion that the underground mining water is used for domestic purposes, so it’s not suggestible for such atomic waste dumps as it could prove carcinogenic to the inhabitants and surrounding areas. already the miners are deprived of basic amenities’ and biased treatment shown to them and this will add more fuel to the fire. The consecutively elected leader has done nothing to the 100 Years Plus old mining town, now it will put a logical end to the people of KGF.
Posted by Nagaraj at 11/22/2012 18:47 Reply to this Report abuse
"The main objective of Radioactive Waste management is to deal with radioactive waste in a manner that protects Human Health and the Environment now and in the future without imposing undue burdens on future generations." No country in the world has found a totally foolproof way to keep the deadly nuclear waste buried safely. Kolar Gold Fields has contributed its Richness by providing assets for the development Nation by producing Huge Exploration of Gold and accessories minerals, We plead the central Govt. and Atomic Energy Commissions to review your decisions - Please don't show your gratitude by dumping Atomic Hazardous Half-Life Isotopes in the Womb of Mother of Mines to perish us gradually. Now its time to Unite and Speak Out Openly, or Else Yama (Dealth) is @ your doorstep !
Posted by Nagaraj at 11/22/2012 23:11 Reply to this Report abuse
Is Karnataka dumping ground ? I can't understand such a mean thinking by Tamilian(Kannan) in saying storing of the nuclear waste in Karnataka(KGF). It can't come from anyone except small mind guying lying in low level.
Posted by Veerendra at 11/22/2012 10:44 Reply to this Report abuse
This is unfortunate and dangerous decision, while our opposition to the Nuclear Energy establishment in Kudankulam itself is very strong and will eventually be defeated, this choosing of a place in Karnataka to dump the toxic waste, is wrought with all kinds dangers and emotive issues involved. We hope the people of Kudankulam and Karnataka will jointly thwart this ulterior design of the the establishment which is going to put the life of people in danger. There is a strong opposition to Nuclear initiatives in Karnataka comprising of informed people, organisations and intellectuals they will rallying against this move very soon. We call upon all activists who love environment sustainability, life and livelihoods of people to oppose this stupid,dangerous move with all strength at their command. No to Kudankulam Nuclear Plant, No Nuclear Energy, No to Nuclear Waste Dumping on Karnataka. We will oppose it tooth and nail. Jagadish G Chandra New Socialist Alternative (CWI-India) 9448394365
Posted by Jagadish G Chandra at 11/22/2012 10:53 Reply to this Report abuse
The solution proposed for dealing with nuclear waste of burying it under ground in a special store with strong enough protection to stop its radioactivity is disgusting to say the least. This philosophy was born largely under the pressures of having to convince a worried public that the nuclear industry knows how to dispose of its wastes. However, this is a false assurance. The two main dangers inherent in the burial of nuclear waste are air and water contamination. Explosive or slow releases of gases from an underground disposal site are common. There are too many uncertainties concerning actual methods of burial and of possible chemical interactions within a real environment. There is every possibility that underground waters may come in contact with radioactive elements that have leached out from the waste and contaminate the drinking water of local and distant communities. The only solution for the future is that no more nuclear waste should be produced anywhere in the world.
Posted by Ambrose Pinto SJ at 11/22/2012 11:31 Reply to this Report abuse