CHENNAI: The Centre-appointed Experts Committee on Koodankulam has reacted critically to a critique issued by the representatives of the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) in Chennai.In response to a report published in The New Indian Express on November 28, where PMA-NE representatives raised concerns over the expert group’s report on the Koodankulam nuclear plant, Dr A E Muthunaya-gam, convenor of the expert group, said that the expert group did not deliberate on issues like seismicity, tsunami, radiation in the environment, impact on fishing, marine ecology and waste management at the joint meeting of the state and the central committees held at the Tirunelveli Collector’s office on November 18 because the State committee refused to allow any presentation at the meeting although the Central committee was prepared.Besides, the group clarified that its 39-page report on the safety aspects of the plant had dwelt upon the liability and scientific information on nuclear waste and fresh water needs of the plant on page 21 section 5.16 and page 20 section 5.12, contrary to the PMANE claims.In response to charges by PMANE volunteers that the expert group’s report confirmed that the NPCIL had cut corners compromising on safety and failed to perform statutory due diligence, the expert group spokesperson said the allegations were not based on facts and required to be debated. Environmental clearance for KKNPP units 1 and 2 were obtained in 1989 and subsequently, clearances for units 3 and 4 were obtained in 2008 and units 5 and 6 in 2009, the statement from Dr Muthunayagam said in response to allegations that for all the units, the 1989 clearances were relied upon.Responding to apprehensions raised by scientist Dr V T Padmanabhan of possible catastrophy in the event of failure of the desalination plant, Dr Muthunayagam said the concerns raised appeared to be due to lack of understanding of the desalination capacity and the operations of the plant.
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