Oct 21, 2012, 02.21AM
NEW DELHI: India (click here) is set to cross a major hump in its nuclear power programme with the Kudankulam plant expected to begin generating power within a month after it goes critical in the next 10 days, marking, an end to prolonged delays due to local protests and anti-nuclear activism.
The first unit of the Russian-built nuclear plant is close to a landmark moment after post-Fukushima public unease over atomic power and a powerful alliance of church groups and activists threatened to thwart India's ambitious plans to build 20 plants in the 12th Plan....
CHENNAI: The protest fast (click here) against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) continued for the 14th day Monday in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, an activist said.
"Around 400 people from Thomaiarpuram, Idinthakarai and Kudankulam participated in the fast," S. Sivasubramanian, coordinator of the People's Rights Movement, an organisation fighting for the plant's closure, told IANS.
India's nuclear power plant operator NPCIL is building two 1,000 MW nuclear power reactors with Russian technology and equipment in Koodankulam, around 650 km from here. The first unit is expected to go on stream in December. The project is estimated to cost around Rs.13,000 crore....
The power plant is at the southern tip of India. It isn't as though it is exempt from flood waters. The protesters are not hysterical, they are correct. This was one lousy place to put a nuclear power plant.
Effects of the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami on the Indian Mainland (click here)
The 26 December 2004 tsunami significantly affected the coastal regions
of southern peninsular India. About 8,835 human lives were lost in the tsunami
in mainland India, with 86 persons reported missing. Two reconnaissance
teams traveled by road to survey the damage across mainland India.
Geographic and topological features affecting tsunami behavior on the
mainland were observed. The housing stock along the coast, as well as bridges
and roads, suffered extensive damage. Structures were damaged by direct
pressure from tsunami waves, and scouring damage was induced by the
receding waves. Many of the affected structures consisted of nonengineered,
poorly constructed houses belonging to the fishing community....
