Thirunelveli,November 6, 2011

Kudankulam plant is 100% safe: Kalam

Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who is on a mission to allay fears about the safety of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, on Sunday said it was ‘completely safe’ as it is located in a low frequency seismic zone, a view rejected by the locals.

Mr. Kalam, who held discussions with scientists and engineers of the Indo-Russian Joint Venture, including Nuclear Power Corporation Chairman S.K. Jain, said, “The plant is safe in all aspects.”

“There is no need to worry about the safety aspect of the plant, as it is in a low frequent seismic zone. There is also no threat of a Tsunami as the plant is 1,300 km away from the seismic centre point. Besides, the plant is 13.5 metres above sea level,” Mr. Kalam, a votary of nuclear energy, said.

Mr. Kalam’s visit comes amid the continuing standoff on the Rs 13,600 crore Indo-Russian project, whose first unit was scheduled to be commissioned in December.

Officials said the agitation by locals against the project has upset the scheduled commissioning.

Mr. Kalam said all safety aspects, including automatic cooling of the plant in the event of generator failure after power goes off, ‘double wall’ protection for KNPP workers inside and outside, structural safety and container to store the 25 per cent residual fuel from the plant have been provided.

He said he was also sure that there would be no damage to the surrounding environment with the setting up of the plant.

Mr. Kalam said ‘Bath Tub’ facility has been provided to flush core melt waste. “There is a solution in the tub which will take care of all radiation problems. There will be no radiation at all. The workers inside and outside the plant are 100 per cent safe.”

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2603911.ece?homepage=true