Campaigners to join hands, rally at N-plant sites Even before the nuclear industry gets its act together to build new plants, activists opposing India’s atomic energy programme have joined hands for co-ordinated protests at various sites where nuclear projects are planned. An organised agitation is expected to mount pressure on the government, which is facing strident protests against the proposed 10,000 mw nuclear plant at Jaitapur in Maharashtra. Apart from Jaitapur, activists are leading protests at the proposed nuclear plant sites at Mithi Virdi in Gujarat, Tarapur in Maharashtra and Fatehabad in Haryana. Activists and local representatives from these places and from Jaduguda uranium mines in Jharkhand have gathered in Gujarat Vidyapith. The campaigners used a video link to interact with Greenpeace Japan’s anti-nuclear campaigners led by Kazue Suzuki, who has offered to help Indian volunteers. “Movements against nuclear power need to be organised since we are opposing the mighty government machinery and powerful multinationals,” said Krishnakant Chauhan, who convened the meeting of activists. India plans to build 30 new reactors to add 63,000 mw of capacity in the next two decades to reduce chronic power shortages that are impeding industrial growth. India currently produces 4,780 mw of nuclear power, which is projected to rise to 7,280 mw next year and over 20,000 mw by 2020. Need to Address Protesters Chauhan represents the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, which is leading a movement against a proposed 6,000-8,000 mw nuclear plant in Gujarat. The nuclear industry is eyeing $150-billion business in India through new plants and related activities. Manmohan Singh has reaffirmed India’s commitment to nuclear energy but said safety issues topped the government agenda. Activists allege the government was promoting nuclear energy under pressure from international lobbies. YK Alagh, a former power minister and member of the Planning Commission, said nuclear energy was important for India but the government needed to handle the situation effectively and set up a dedicated unit to deal with protests and land acquisition issues. “You cannot ignore the issues pertaining to farmers’ interests and safety. There should be an autonomous atomic regulator, working independently from the Department of Atomic Energy, to ensure proper functioning of nuclear projects. India is lucky it hasn’t witnessed any nuclear accidents,” he said. NPCIL, which operates nuclear plants in the country, and the Department of Atomic Energy declined the invitation to interact with the activists but sent literature supporting their case.