Illegal developments in sterile zone of nuke complex pose grave risk

(published)

C Shivakumar

Chennai:Large-scale unauthorised developments have mushroomed in and around sterile zone of the Kalpakkam nuclear complex violating the national and international reactor guidelines thus putting to risk the security of the nuclear establishment and the people.

 

According to the national and international guidelines, the area within 1.6 km from the reactor must be designated as ‘exclusion zone’ and an area of 5 km radius from the operating nuclear reactor must be designated as sterile zone.  There should be no unnatural population growth within the sterile area.

 

Kalpakkam sources said the illegal developments in the area would hamper evacuation plans during natural disasters or terrorist attacks on the nuclear reactor posing a risk to life and security of the nuclear complex.

 

But despite the guidelines, illegal developments as well as plans to build housing settlements are mushrooming with village panchayats bending the rules. Some of the builders are also seeking the permission from the Kalpakkam Nuclear Installation Local Authority (NILA) for approval. This is done without the permission of district town planning commission thus violating the norms.

 

Although NILA has written to the state government authorities seeking a survey on the sterile zone on the approval status of the developments in and around he area, till now no action has been taken. DTCP sources said a survey is underway but questioned NILA’s decision to grant approval to some projects despite guidelines against unnatural population growth in the sterile area.

 

Construction work was going on in full swing in the area. When Express posed as a buyer of real estate properties, one of the firm selling property in Vengambakkam quoted the price of one ground of land at about Rs six lakh to Rs 20 lakh. “The land is classified as ‘farm land,” he said. 

 

In another area in Vengambakkam village, a site for Rajavarthini Nagar is planned. It is built by Abhiramee Estates Properties and Promoters. A large giant size hoarding says “Double bedroom deluxe flats proposed for construction.’ A villager says construction will begin from Avani, which is an auspicious Tamil month.

 

A real estate firm in Vengambakkam village promises to start construction within a month. “We are the first to get permission from NILA and now we have sent in papers for DTCP’s approval which we think will not take long time,” says an agent