CHENNAI: If the last two months have been punctuated by intense protests against the Kudankulam nuclear power project, the pro-plant camp too has held occasional strikes and fasts in the southern and western districts.
But Chennai, which remained largely silent, is now being subjected to a low-key campaign in favour of the project. The campaign, however, islargely aimed at colleges and state-run institutions.
The most recent of them was an event held at Anna University on Saturday, inviting the students to debate on the issue of Kudankulam. "Youngsters need to be aware of the processes and ramifications of nuclear energy and whether it is really as vulnerable as many make it out to be," said P K N Panicker, president of Chemical Industries Association, which had organised the debate.
The association has been actively campaigning in favour of the project for the past two months and also writing letters to the chief minister, J Jayalalithaa, urging her to facilitate early commissioning of the plant.
"We are also in the process of setting up similar discussions and debates in seven other colleges in the city," Panicker said. Some of these events are being chaired by members of the central expert committee as well as representatives of the nuclear fraternity.
"These debates go on to show how much the public needs to know about this issue," said W S Aruldoss Kanthiah, a member of the central expert committee and the Department of Atomic Energy, who was acting judge at one such event. "We have also approached the state government for permission to address the state expert committee as well other state-run platforms."
Ironically, the nuclear scientists community, who are generally considered to be close-mouthed, are now spotted urging the students and college heads to approach them for guided tours of the facilities at Kalpakkam atomic power station.
While Chennai is latest target of a subtle and urbane campaign in favour of the plant, other districts of Tamil Nadu have been bristling with strikes and fasts. In November, various interested groups organised a human chain in Madurai, urging the government to open the plant.
On December 20, 2011, over 400 smallscale industries in Erode district observed a one-day strike urging the government to commission the plant. Similarly, large industries too went on a strike in Coimbatore while fasts were observed in Tirunelveli by several groups including Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC).
Koodankulam Issues