Are public protests against India's nuclear projects succeeding?

[kristopher]

Tamil Nadu: People power nukes Koodankulam nuclear power project
Locals demanding closure of the N-plant are on indefinite fast.

<snip>

...it appears that the way forward for the nuclear establishment may not be smooth. The public mood on nuclear power has changed globally after the Fukushima disaster in Japan.

The protests in India have to be viewed in this context. First it was Jaitapur. Now it is Koodankulam. Haripur was nipped in the bud by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee even before protests could begin. In fact, Banerjee's decision is likely to embolden protesters elsewhere.

Resistance against nuclear power plants is continuing in Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, where nuclear power projects have been proposed at Fatehabad, Mithi Virdi, Chutka, Jaitapur and Kovvada, respectively.

Given the public perception about safety of nuclear power and problems involved in land acquisition and environmental clearance, setting up a large number of plants and with technology from multiple vendors seems a tall order. "The government will have to learn how to handle public anger. You just can't brush it aside. People have been protesting, but their voices were not heard by an arrogant nuclear establishment so far," Gopalakrishnan said.

At Idinthakarai for instance...

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/anti-nuclear-plant-protesters-in-tamil-nadu-stall-pms-n-power-dream/1/152074.html

[FBaggins]

1. Nope.

India just sent Areva a request for post-Fukushima testing results - indicating that their planned purchase decision would be delayed as a result. But they were reportedly also clear that they remained commited to the deal itself.

[SpoonFed]

2. Spinfail.

Your attempt at spin as believable as me telling you that I am committed to buying your used car but that I still have to think about it some more.

[FBaggins]

3. That's not so bad.

Given your track record for identifying reality (rather than just assuming that it was what you wanted it to be)... I can only take your estimate as evidence that I was correct.

Or I could rely on what India has been publicly saying.

The head of fast-growing India's atomic energy commission, Srikumar Banerjee, told the same annual member state gathering of the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of plans in his country for a "major expansion" of nuclear capacity.

...or...

http://www.sananews.net/english/2011/09/despite-fukushima-india-bullish-on-nuclear/
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsworld.php?id=615009

[kristopher]

4. ""The Centre is ready to reconsider the project." - minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office

"The Centre is ready to reconsider the project. People's safety comes first. Power comes later," said V. Narayanasamy, minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) after visiting the venue of the mass protest at Idinthakarai, close to the project site."

The article relates breaking news and indicates your confidence - that the Indian government will place it's statement to a group of foreign businesses above the unmistakable desires of the Indian people - might be misplaced.


http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/anti-nuclear-plant-protesters-in-tamil-nadu-stall-pms-n-power-dream/1/152074.html

[FBaggins]

5. All three of my citations were "breaking news" as well.

The difference is that they were direct statements of national intent. Not those of a functionary sent to break up a protest by claiming that the government was listening and would "consider" their desires.

On edit - Some additional breaking news.

No going back on N-plant plan: Govt

The government ruled out reversal of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's ambitious plan to make nuclear power an important component of India's energy plans despite protests like the one at Kudankulum.

While terming the protests against the power plant as expression of genuine concern, official sources said that it would be utterly wrong to interpret government's attempt to assuage those as any backpedalling from PM's plan to ramp up the generation from nuclear plants.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Jaya-promises-cabinet-resolution-anti-nuke-activists-call-off-protest/articleshow/10073485.cms

So there you are. Right from the horse's mouth. Your interpretation (and Kris') are "utterly wrong".

Not that this should come as a surpise. :)

[kristopher]

6. Apparently you've no idea of where the term "treehugger" originated.

[FBaggins]

7. You think they can hug multi-billion-dollar reactors to keep them from turning on?

Hardly likely.

[SpoonFed]

8. I think the Tolkien overlord of all knowledge should put on some clothes...

before he starts chucking stones from his glass Hobbit hole.

(Haha, master of reality... hardly dude.)

[FBaggins]

9. "official sources said that it would be utterly wrong...

...to interpret government's attempt to assuage those as any backpedalling from PM's plan"


SpoonFed = "Utterly Wrong"

What a shocker. :sarcasm:

Time to get off the pap SF.

[kristopher]

10. What "official sources"? Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa?

Here is an "official source" that is calling for the project to be stopped.

"In an unusual move, Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa has urged prime minister Manmohan Singh to halt construction of two nuclear reactors at Koodamkulam in Tirunelveli district, where more than 100 local residents have been on hunger-strike against the project since September 11, supported by tens of thousands. Only a few days ago, Jayalalithaa had dismissed their apprehensions about lack of reactor safety as unwarranted. Evidently, determined popular opposition to the project has impelled her to acknowledge the “agonising” state of affairs and the people’s “natural” conce­rn “for the safety of their families and for themselves” after the “Fukushima disaster”.

- Perils of promoting nuclear power
By Praful Bidwai Sep 21 2011
http://www.mydigitalfc.com/op-ed/perils-promoting-nuclear-power-368




Jayalalithaa tells PM to stop work at nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jayalalithaa-tells-pm-to-stop-work-at-nuclear-plant-in-tamil-nadu/1/151971.html

[FBaggins]

15. The central government itself

"The government ruled out reversal of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's ambitious plan.."

Here is an "official source" that is calling for the project to be stopped.

Sorry. That's not an "official source" from the level of government with the power to make the decision. To placate the protestors (in a move that worked - at least for now), the local cabinet agreed to pass a call for Centre for reevaluate the plan. But they know in advance that it's all a sham. They know what the government will do and it allows them to play nice with the protestors while Centre plays the bad cop.

[SpoonFed]

17. *yawn*

I think the phrase "utterly wrong" should be reserved for describing glaring errors and denial on the level of your lack of comprehension of Fukushima.

Can you at least ratched up the level of childish insults directed at me to something that stirs my ire enough to respond with something other than a yawn and a desire for more coffee for fear of falling asleep while browsing forum posts riddled with your misdirection and covered with your usual schlock?

The very fact that there are mixed messages coming out of the Indian gov't, flies in the face of your pronouncement that everything is smooth sailing for nuke power (and your agenda), then add in very loud public protests.

On a related note, if the nuke industry were to be handing out strong yet relaxing sedatives in the wake of Fukushima, perhaps a strong pot of black coffee might help anyone touting the usual agenda to get a blurry glimpse reality.

[kristopher]

11. April West Bengal: We will scrap Haripur nuclear project: Mamata

We will scrap Haripur nuclear project: Mamata

Sunday, 24 April 2011

Kolkata, April 24: Hours after West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said his government would review the proposed nuclear plant at Haripur, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Sunday said she will scrap the project if her party came to power in the state.

"Haripur is not the proper place for setting up a nuclear power plant because it is a densely populated area. Fishermen will also be affected. We will do it elsewhere," Banerjee said in an interview to a Bengali television channel Star Ananda Sunday night...

http://www.siasat.com/english/news/we-will-scrap-haripur-nuclear-project-mamata

[FBaggins]

16. "We will do it elsewhere"

That's the key to answering the question in your OP. India has made clear that they plan on expanding nuclear power from 3% of their generation to 25% (of a much higher total) over the next few decades. They may quible over where best to place them, but not whether to build them.

The current satyagraha exercise might well have been successful had it started when the plant was proposed. The center might have just moved it elsewhere. But the first reactors are just about completed. Too late to move the project now.

[kristopher]

12. June West Bengal: Atomic agency head hopes to meet Mamata over project site

Atomic agency head hopes to meet Mamata over project site

June 30th, 2011


The Atomic Energy Commission Wednesday expressed its willingness to approach West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who has ruled out Haripur in East Midnapore district as the site of a 10,000 mw nuclear power plant.

“We would like to meet the new chief minister,” AEC Chairman Srikumar Banerjee told mediapersons here on the sidelines of a seminar at the Indian Statistical Institute.

Srikumar Banerjee said more than the government’s acceptance of a proposal, public acceptance was needed for the project...

http://www.pravasitoday.com/atomic-agency-head-hopes-to-meet-mamata-over-project-site

[kristopher]

13. August West Bengal: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee rejects proposed Haripur Nuclear project

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee rejects proposed Haripur Nuclear project

Posted on: 18 Aug 2011, 03:45 PM

Kolkata: In a major setback to the Congress-TMC bonhomie, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee refused setting up of proposed nuclear plant in Haripur region of East Midnapore district of the state. In the same breath, the CM has made it clear that not a single nuclear power plant will be established in the state during her tenure.

Replying to a question in Assembly session on Wednesday, state Power Minister Manish Gupta said the state government had decided to reject the proposed nuclear plant.

Gupta alleged that the previous Left government had misguided the people about the project. “The present government is not in favour of any nuclear plant in the state,” Gupta added...

http://post.jagran.com/west-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-rejects-proposed-haripur-nuclear-project-1313662443

[kristopher]

14. Sept Tamil Nadu: Cabinet resolution sought to shut down nuclear plant

The sensitivity shown by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and her “sensible position” on the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project should translate into the adoption of a resolution by the State Cabinet recommending the closure of the nuclear plant, social activist Medha Patkar said on Tuesday.

Talking to reporters on behalf of the National Alliance of People's Movements here, Ms. Patkar, who visited the protesters on fast at Idinthakarai near Kudankulam in Tirunelveli district, said that people would continue their protest until the Cabinet passed the resolution.

Asked how she would address the perception that closing down the plant would mean loss of hundreds of crores of rupees already spent, she said one should not count this project in terms of money because it involved human lives and natural resources. “It teaches a lesson. Going further will result in further waste of money.” She said that the 17 to 18 per cent transmission loss in Tamil Nadu and 30 to 40 per cent loss in other States also constituted colossal waste of money.

She said if West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee could stop the Haripur nuclear power plant, the project at Kudankulam could also be halted. ...

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2470488.ece