Indian nuclear continues to suffer from Fukushima's political fallout

• 12 years ago (2011-12-18)
• Junior Isles

Europe 1061 Nuclear 640

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Indian officials from the controversial Kudankulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu have said that power generation from the project is expected to take 'some time.'

The Prime Minister had previously revealed that the Kudankulam project would begin commissioning within two weeks.

In previous months, Kudankulam has been the focus of heated protests, with environmental activists voicing their discontent at government apathy towards the dangers posed by nuclear energy, post- Fukushima.

Many experts have reassured that the concerns of the locals are unfounded, highlighting the efficiency of existing nuclear safety and monitoring mechanisms put in place by the government.

However, Chief Engineer (Civil) of the Kudankulam Nuclear Plant, R Suresh, has disclosed that no work had actually taken place at the project until very recently.

"The Prime Minister had only said that the plant would begin commissioning in two weeks. He never said power will be generated within two weeks. For the past two months, no work has been happening inside the plant, except that of minimum maintenance. Work at the plant will begin soon," Suresh reported to media sources.

Established in a joint collaboration between India and Russia, the Kudankulam nuclear power project aims to build two 1000 MW VVER type reactors by the end of December 2011.

However, in the wake of the Fukushima incident, several nuclear projects across India, such as the one at Jaitapur in Maharashtra, have run into trouble as protesting locals and activists argue that such plants risk dangerous environmental damage.