Reacting Nuclearly on Kudankulam

The nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, erstwhile Russia in 1986 and the recent Fukushima Daiichi disaster at Japan in 2011 has raised alarms and concerns about the safety standards of nuclear reactors especially when these sensitive and radioactive structures are threatened or triggered by natural disasters. The state of the art automated systems designed to curb the nuclear fission whenever things go awry have a limited capacity to stem the rot as no one can win against the vagaries of nature.

Japan is the only country which has experienced the terrible after effects of the nuclear holocaust in 1945.One of the most gruesome and telling tragedy willingly inflicted on the human race till date, and which has been effectively projected on celluloid is very gripping and takes a lot of heart to muster courage and view the ghastly aftermath.

The portrayal is so strong that one feels the pain, heat and the numbness that affected the unsuspecting victims 67 years back.

Japan is sitting on a Virtual time bomb and is ever on the tenterhooks because of the alarming regularity of seismic disturbances often accompanied by ‘complimentary’ tsunamis. The tenacity of the unassuming Japanese to bounce back though adulatory is often cut back by the forces of nature who tries to emphatically assert ‘’who is the boss’’.

The Fukushima nuclear power plant had been built adhering to stringent preventive measures to withstand any accidents but the gigantic tsunami which ultimately ravaged it was not at all contemplated. The Pictures of the devastation was widely seen all over the world thanks to the Satellite television that has invaded the privacy of our living rooms.

 Kudankulam in the state of Tamil Nadu has been in the news after a mass protest against the Construction of the Nuclear power reactor turned ugly and violent after 2 persons were killed in Police action. This reactor has been built incorporating the dicey and unreliable Soviet technology.

 The Chernobyl disaster happened because of lack of alertness and proper safety regulations in place, questionable and accident prone technology and indifference of the stone faced communist bureaucrats whose sole agenda was to ‘’outmanoeuvre the NATO’’ to gain a strategic advantage as a Super power.

 The disaster management Cell in India is worse than the malady itself. We all know about the dismal and pathetic behavior of the authorities during the Bhopal Gas Leak, in 1984. Many of the victims died because of the improper and erratic health care doled out to them.

 God forbid and should any uncontrolled nuclear fission occur in any of our reactors the gushing kinetic energy along with the gamma rays would obliterate everything in its path for generations considering the eternal radioactive chain reaction.

The rising discontent against the Proposed reactor has prompted the authorities to come out with ridiculous and startling allegations like ‘’foreign NGO’s’’ are actively foraging and willfully sabotaging this nuclear power project.

Instead of playing with the innocent lives of the people, wouldn’t it be fair if a greener and cleaner option of renewable energy is given preference than to a precarious piece of radioactive junk forever hovering over our conscience and willing to burst at the seams any moment??.

Unfortunately all this comes up for discussion when the whole project is nearing completion and after colossal investment in such Capital intensive projects.