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Tamil Nadu nuclear row: APJ Abdul Kalams visit gently shifts Kudankulam dynamics

CHENNAI: Former President APJ Abdul Kalams entry into the Kudankulam arena has subtly changed the dynamics of the anti-nuclear protests in the region. Within a day of the former president visiting to the nuclear power project site and endorsing its state-of-the-art safety features, there is a growing voice supporting the former space scientist and questioning the views of S P Udayakumar, who is spearheading the protest at ground zero. Kalams 10-point action plan - portions of which were published in TOI a day before it was given to the government - suggesting development of surrounding villages and creating 10,000 jobs, has struck a chord with a section. An indication of this came on Monday when DMK chief M Karunanidhi, who has warned against going ahead with the project without addressing peoples fears, said, Kalam is a former president and thinks before he talks. The Centre should take his views into account and the panel constituted by the Centre should also consider his statements. Dont have even nano-sized doubt about N-plant Outlining a 10-point plan for the Kudankulam nuclear power project, the former president said people should not have even a nano-sized doubt over the safety of the project, as it met all the safety aspects. Kalams suggestions to the Centre included development of the region where the plant is located, including construction of a four-lane highway connecting Kudankulam and the villages situated in a 30km radius with Madurai, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari; a world-class hospital with over 500 beds; mobile medical facilities to locals; creation of 10,000 jobs for villagers living within the 30km to 60km radius of the plant; and bank loans for youth with 25% subsidized interest rates. Kalam also suggested creating infrastructure facilities like construction of green houses, multi-storeyed housing complexes and playgrounds. He said fishermen in the area should be provided with motorboats, small jetties and fish cold storage facilities. In his report, Kalam said the local residents truthful questions, dynamics of geo-political and market forces and the people, who are not thinking that the nations interest is more important than their interest, are the reasons for the protest.

                                                                                                               
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