Econintersect (reported by Sanjeev Kulkarni): As first reported for GEI News by Sanjeev Kulkarni over one week ago, the Japanese nuclear plant accident has caused opposition to plans to build the world’s largest nuclear power plant in India. Since then the opposition has become more ardent. Opponents cite that many experts say that the French Technology for the plant is untested. Only four are under construction one in France, two in China and one in Finland.
Public worry is reinforced by memory of one of the world’s worst industrial accidents in 1984 when about 3,000 people were killed by gas leaks from a Union Carbide factory in Bhopal.
Demonstrations have increased and become violent. One person has been killed as police, unable to control a demonstration, opened fire with live ammunition. Opposition to the plant in the Ratnagiri region is on multiple counts:
- the locals do not want as they fear that their livelihood through fishing and mango farming will vanish;
- environmental experts say it is one of the most bio diverse region on earth; and
- geologists are worried that it is proposed to be built on seismically active zones.