The State expert panel on the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) that studied the safety arrangements in nuclear reactors is expected to submit its report to the government shortly after going through documents and recording the apprehensions of the local community.
Though the anti-KKNPP struggle committee has termed that Sunday's talks with the State expert panel as only “a beginning”, it seems that there would not be any more talks between the two sides as the experts were likely to submit their report in a fortnight.
Speaking to reporters here on Sunday after the talks with the members of anti-KKNPP Struggle Committee, Iniyan, convener of the State expert panel and Director, Institute for Energy Studies, Anna University, Chennai, said the State expert team, which was given the tasks of ascertaining the safety features of the 2 X 1,000 MWe VVER reactors and understanding the apprehensions of the local community living close to the KKNPP site, inspected the “first-of-its kind safety measures” incorporated in the nuclear reactors. Since the entire complex including the reactor building and the diesel generator building and the control unit had been firmly located at a reasonable height from the shoreline, it would not be affected by tsunami or earthquake with the magnitude of even 6.50 on Richter scale.
“The reactor has seven safety arrangements and we could fully understood all these safety measures,” Dr. Iniyan said. On the apprehensions of the local community, he said the team had understood them after talking to the representatives of the protesters. “With the submission of our report, our task will be completed,” Dr. Iniyan said. Commenting on denial of permission to the KKNPP officials to explain the salient safety features of the reactor to the State expert panel members, he said it was most unfortunate.
