Chennai:
Anti-nuclear activists are opposing the visit of US
secretary of state John Kerry to India alleging that it is a
“sinister mission’ to secure anticipatory protection for US nuclear supplier
Westinghouse immunity fron any future nuclear catastrophe in reactors it plans
to set up in Mithi Virdi in Gujarat.
Activists of People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy,
Poovulagin Nanbargal, Doctors for Safer Environment and Chennai Solidarity
Group said they opposed the Mithi Virdi project stating that it is shameful to
see Americans speaking of immunity for US nuclear companies even while offering
refuge in American soil to Union Carbide which has refused to alleviate the
sufferings of the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster victims.
Addressing a press conference here, M G Deivasahayam,
Chairman of the experts group of People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy, said
that while the United States has not come up with a nuclear reactor for the
last 23 years, why is it keen to sell its nuclear reactors in India.
He said Kerry should also find out whether the site selected
is geologically, geographically and strategically fit to house high-risk
facilities such as six AP-1000 nuclear power plants. Activists allege the
American debate regarding the possibility of AP 1000’s containment structure
giving in to airplane crashes, earthquakes and storm impoundments did not defer
the government appointed site selection committee to choose the coast of Gulf
of Kambhat for these reactors, a location very near to Pakistan and known for earthquakes,
sever cyclonic storms and tides. Interestingly, activists in India will be
staging a protest against Kerry’s visit over the nuclear issue.
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