Nuclear Energy Is Not Needed

Muslim Murasu, June 2011

Kalpakkam is located at 70 kilometer from Chennai along the south-east coast. It houses two reactors each generating 220 Megawatts. Atomic Energy Corporation is a Central government institution. The electricity generated here is shared among Andhra, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondichery and Tamilnadu. Under federal administration, Tamilnadu gets a share of 75%.
The design, technology, installation, operation and maintenance of Kalpakkam atomic power station is done completely by Indian technocrats. Uranium that is naturally available in India is used here. These two reactors work continuously for 346 days and 432 reactors respectively. 51000 million units (MU) has been generated.
2000 hectares will be gobbled up to generate hydro electricity. Nuclear energy can be generated with land of just 20 hectares. Coal based power plants will need 70 hectares. Nuclear power plants contribute to 18% of electricity generation globally. It saves the world from 250 crore tonnes of carbon dioxide greenhouse gas.
Habitation and movement of people is not allowed within 1.5 km radius around the atomic power plant site. Protection to vegetation and living beings are monitored upto 5 km radius. Emergency Planning Zone is upto 16 km radius around the site. Atomic power plant station is operating with elaborate crisis management plans.
250 engineering students are given implant training every year; one year training for ITI students. Native people living in the surrounding villages are allowed visits to the atomic power plant. The power plant has secured ISO-14001 certification. Protection is also given to the nearby Edayur bird sanctuary ecosystem.
These are the arguments stacked up by the scientists from the atomic power plant. Deterrents of nuclear energy list counter opinions.
Hydro electricity is the cheapest power generation method in the world. Production cost is only 15 crore rupees. But France has sold two nuclear reactors amounting to 5000 crore rupees. Russia has secured a bargain to sell 2000 tonnes of Uranium; 780 million dollar, 4000 crore rupees. Production cost for nuclear energy is going up. And a separate expenditure is needed to guard nuclear waste for 100 years. Two lakh crore rupees will have to be shelled out over 20 years to generate 40000 MW.
Environmental activists are up in arms against nuclear energy. Solar energy should get adequate attention. Wind energy will surely complement it. Elite group is coming as an obstacle to national development.