Except for the units that are already functioning in Kaiga Generating Station, the people of Uttara Kannada have decided not to tolerate additional nuclear power units in KGS.
Except for the units that are already functioning in Kaiga Generating Station (KGS), the people of Uttara Kannada have decided not to tolerate additional nuclear power units in KGS. People hailing from villages in Joida, Yellapur and Karwar taluks have joined the protest against setting up new nuclear power units. In fact, it has now become an anti-nuclear movement.
The villagers and their leaders have planned to take the help of religious leaders in this movement. Popularly known as ‘Green Swamiji,’ Gangadharendra swamiji of Swarnavalli Math in Sonda, Sirsi taluk, will lead the anti-nuclear agitation.
The village chiefs are waiting for his return to Sirsi, as he is currently engaged in Bhagavadgita Abhiyan in Bangalore.
The swamiji said: “I will not shirk the responsibility if I am asked to lead the anti-nuclear agitation. I will consult experts on nuclear safety and human habitation before taking a decision. I have learnt that, due to radiation, many people are suffering from strange diseases.”
“This has indeed become a self-propelling anti-nuclear movement. People from remote villages in the four taluks have started protesting. Over 100 village panchayats in Karwar, Yellapura, Joida and Kumta have already joined the anti-nuclear movement. They will hold a rally in Karwar in front of the district office on November 29,” said Babu Naik, an activist.
Shyamnath Naik, member of the Mallapura gram panchayat, said KGS authorities were ‘experimenting’ with the people.
He said: “There are six villages within a 5-km radius and 41 villages within a 16-km radius. According to the international nuclear safety norms, if there are four or more nuclear power plants, an area of 16km should be declared the ‘no man’ zone. In the case of KGS, there are four units already working and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) was planning to add two more units.
The KGS is violating safety norms as people are residing in villages within a radius of 5km to 16 km from the plant. If this is the case, at least 100 villages will come under the ‘no man’ zone.”
“In fact, if NPCIL or KGS is serious about nuclear safety, they should have evacuated people from all villages to the nuclear-safe zone. But, in the last 20 years, they have not done it and we feel like guinea pigs living here,” said Raju Naik of Kadra village.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}