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Dr Kalam's dose

Dr Kalam's dose

Author: Editorial
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: November 8, 2011
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dr-kalams-dose/872353/0

Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has done the nation yeoman service by rising to the defence of the Koodankulam nuclear plant, allaying fears about its safety. He's done so at a time when the Central government has been so hesitant and inarticulate in engaging the raging, and often misinformed, public debate on the issue. In fact, the former president, in visiting the plant of his own and then speaking to the press, has risen above narrow political concerns and spoken in the national interest. As he did three years ago in another context - on the Indo-US nuclear deal - he has admirably asserted a standard for statesmanship, and shown that the UPA's failure to extend requisite courtesies to him will not detain him from doing the right thing by the country.

Even if the locals' fears are the result of wilful misrepresentation, whenever doubts and apprehensions are raised about a nuclear plant, they need to be addressed. Kalam has not only directed his opinion at these apprehensions but also spoken up about the larger imperative of nuclear power for India. The facts of the Koodankulam plant - that it is in a low seismic zone and at a height of 13.5 m above sea-level, thereby just about nullifying the threats of an earthquake or a tsunami - have been stated before, but coming from Kalam, they ought to take on an authority and reassurance for those whose protests have made the case more a political headache for the government than a mere safety issue. After the Fukushima disaster in Japan earlier this year, there was understandable concern all over the world. However, the persistent equation of any nuclear plant with Fukushima needs to be debunked authoritatively and articulately. The first-generation reactors as at Fukushima and current third-generation reactors are worlds apart in terms of safety and emergency back-up systems.

Koodankulam, which began as a model site, has twin 1,000 MW reactors - India's first - the first of which was all set to go critical by year-end, with its hot run long completed. Not only is valuable time slipping by, but there is a real danger of damage to the reactor's systems if it is not operational soon. India cannot afford continued over-dependence on thermal power, for the reasons of both the environment and the availability of coal. It needs to diversify its energy basket. The price for Koodankulam and Jaitapur not taking off will be paid by posterity, and it will be heavy.


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