Is Democracy Thwarting India’s Nuclear Power Ambitions?

[kristopher]

September 26, 2011, 10:30 AM IST

Is Democracy Thwarting India’s Nuclear Power Ambitions?
By Megha Bahree

India’s democratic process is changing the country’s nuclear energy program at startling speed.

First it was protests at the proposed nuclear power plant at Jaitapur in Maharashtra. Now it’s protests at the plant under construction at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu, and at practically every site across the country that has been designated for a new power plant. And at most places, people’s concerns about the risks of nuclear power are clashing with the government’s plans to power the country with nuclear energy.

At present India operates 20 nuclear plants that generate 4780 megawatts of electricity, a miniscule 3% or so of the country’s entire output. It has another four under construction, including the plant at Kudankulam whose fate is now unknown, which, if they come on line, will produce an additional 5300 MW.

The protests in places like Kudankulam and Jaitapur are more livelihood driven (along with a sprinkling of the environmental and anti-nuclear lobbies, of course.) Land and water are precious commodities in India and the locals are worried about a loss of both, as well as a loss of the farming life on both land and sea. In West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, the state’s chief minister, has refused to allow a plant at the proposed site of Haripur.

This, says Harsh V. Pant...

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2011/09/26/is-democracy-thwarting-india’s-nuclear-power-ambitions/?mod=google_news_blog

[aquart]

1. Oh, that pesky democracy.

Clearly they need to buy some of our voting machines. That should cure the problem.