Day-long stir against nuke projects in New Delhi
Several rights and political organizations on Thursday observed a daylong dharna at Jantar Mantar demanding scrapping of nuclear power plants at Koodankulam(Tamilnadu), Jaitapur(Maharashtra) and Fatehabad(Haryana).
Some members of Parliament also joined the demonstration to show solidarity with the protestors, comprising farmers, landless labours, fishermen and other sections of the affected areas.
“Nuclear power projects will displace a large number of people and threaten the livelihoods in the surrounding areas. The fisherfolk in Kudankulam, Jaitapur and Mithivirdi, the mango and cashew cultivators of Jaitapur and the farmers of Haryana and Madhya Pradesh are faced with these challenges,” said People’s Union of Civil Liberties activist and senior lawyer N D Pancholi.
Addressing the gathering, Tamil Nadu MP Thol Thirumavalavan said that the lives of people of this country are more important than nuclear energy.
The dharna was also supported by members of Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and peace (CNDP), National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), All India Students Association (AISA), PUCL, and Friends of Koodankulam Anti Nuclear Movement.
India’s energy needs could be better met with decentralised energy production through more abundant renewable sources, suggested the rights activists.
