BJP opposes nuclear waste dump at KGF

The submission by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) to the Supreme Court to bury the spent fuel from Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu at the now defunct Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), has become a major political issue.

The ruling BJP has opposed the idea and Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar made it clear that his Government will not allow KGF to become another more dumpyard. Shettar expressed strong objections to the Centre’s decision and blamed the Union Government for not sharing any information.
Meanwhile, a delegation led by Bangalore south MP and senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar met the Karnataka Governor HR Bhardwaj, on Saturday and submitted a memorandum to stop dumping of nuclear fuel waste at KGF. He said, “The people of Karnataka and the ruling BJP will not allow dumping of spent fuel from Kudankulam nuclear power plant in deep mines of KGF, as proposed by the Centre.” The Centre has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court that the nuclear waste will be dumped at KGF. This can be dangerous and hazardous to the people and livestock in the area,” he added. He said the BJP urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to categorically assure that KGF was not used as a ‘dumping ground’.
“We will raise the issue in Parliament on Monday and prevail upon the Union Government. It is unfortunate that Union Ministers from Karnataka except KH Muniyappa had not bothered to react to the issue,” he remarked. However, the Union Minister from Karnataka M Muniyappa, who hails from KGF, said in New Delhi that he met the Prime Minister who told him that there was no proposal to dump nuclear waste in KGF. Deputy Chief Minister and BJP State Preident K S Eshwarappa, who was also in the delegation, condemned the Centre's move and said the people of Karnataka, will launch a struggle to safeguard their land from being made a nuclear waste dump. In fact, on Wednesday the NPCIL has submitted to the Supreme Court that no danger would be caused by 'spent fuel' after being discharged from the nuclear reactor. Solicitor General Rohinton Nariman, in a submission made before the bench of Justices KS Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra said, “Spent nuclear fuel was the 'used' fuel after desired energy had been extracted.
The said ‘spent fuel’ after being discharged was being re-used to produce electricity through recycling technology,” he said.

Sunday, 25 November 2012 13:32

KESTUR VASUKI | BANGALORE

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