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"The third generation nuclear reactor is
totally safe and is a boon to the people,"
he told reporters at the site, adding that it
is built at a correct height and there is no threat
of any damage or tsunami.
Many protesters, supported by some political
interests, have launched a campaign against the
Russian-assisted nuclear plant after the Fukushima
nuclear disaster in Japan earlier this year.
Dr Kalam, a nuclear and missile scientist and
a former President of the country, said electricity
is necessary for India's economic growth and that
the plant needed to operate as normally scheduled.
He also said his visit to the plant was "purely
as a technologist and scientist and not to mediate
with the protesters. The Kudunkulam plant is located
on the southern Indian coast in Tirunelveli, around
650 km from here.
Notably, the Indian Atomic Energy regulatory
Board (AERB) has already certified the plant to
be safe. Russia is helpng build two 1000 mw reactors
there, and the first is due to start now. Russian
scientists have also assured the safety of the
plant.
The agitation however has created problems.
Dr Kalam observed that he had viewed the safety
features of the two Russian reactors and was also
satisfied with the safety features incorporated
in the nuclear power plant.
Dr Kalam also met a group that wants the plant
to start generating power.
"He is fully satisfied with the active and
passive safety features of the nuclear reactors
in Kudankulam. The passive safety system is working
very well. The reactor heat removal system is
the most modern in the world," Dr Kalam's
adviser V. Ponraj told IANS on phone.
He said Dr Kalam was satisfied with the core
catcher safety feature, whereby in the event of
an accident, the reactor core will be contained.
"The fears of people are unfounded as everything
at the plant is perfect," Ponraj said.
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL)
chairman and managing director S.K. Jain accompanied
the former president during his visit.
India's nuclear power plant operator NPCIL is
building two 1,000 MW nuclear power reactors with
Russian technology and equipment in Kudankulam.
The first unit is expected to go on stream in
December. The project is estimated to cost around
Rs.13,160 crore (over $2.5 billion).
However, some villagers say they fear for their
lives and safety in case of any nuclear accident
and the long-term impact it would have on the
population. Their agitation has put a stop to
the project work thereby delaying the commissioning
of the first unit by several months.
(IANS)
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