Letters - January 31, 2013

The power of trash This is with reference to the article, “Redemption from litter” (September 1-15, 2012). The quantities of non-renewable resources like coal, oil and natural gas are decreasing and in the near future they would probably not be available at all. Several developed countries are saying farewell to fossil fuels and turning to renewable sources of energy. Waste is a good source.

Kudankulam plant can withstand Fukushima-like disaster: Centre to SC

Expressing concern over public and environmental safety of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, the Supreme Court has told the Centre that it will not allow the plant to function if the safety conditions are not met.

CAG and the environment

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is in news like never before. Courtesy: the political uproar over the CAG report on the auction of coal blocks that washed away the monsoon session of Parliament. This is not the only CAG report to touch on matters related to the environment. In recent weeks, the CAG office also published reports on nuclear safety and weak regulations for mobile phones and towers. Down To Earth tracked all of them. A selection of reportage on CAG:

In the dark

Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board revises its consent order to Kudankulam plant

Government for FDI in nuclear energy

While the controversial Kundankulam nuclear power plant is likely to start functioning in a month's time, the Indian government has plans to further boost nuclear power in the country. It proposes to allow foreign direct investments (FDI) in production of the nuclear power to meet the country's growing energy needs, said Union minister of state in the prime minister's office, V Narayanaswamy, on June 13.

Kudankulam meltdown

Message SCIMBL for science alert

There could have been no better way to celebrate the National Science Day on February 28 than launching a mobile alert service to promote and propagate scientific and rational outlook. Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology, launched the service, Science@mobile, in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi Open National University (IGNOU).

Farmers move court against Gorakhpur nuclear power plant in Haryana

Their sit-in protest in front of the Fatehabad mini-secretariat in Haryana completed 525 days on January 25. It has yielded little result. Yet the farmers from Gorakhpur, Kumaharia and Kajalhedi villages of Fatehabad district who are opposing acquisition of 608 hectare (ha) of their land for a nuclear power plant are determined to fight till the end.

Jaitapur nuclear protests: activist leader gets externment notice

Tension prevails in Jaitapur and nearby villages in the backdrop of the call for Jail Bharo protest on January 24, given by Janhit Seva Samiti. The state government is adopting unprecedented measures to curb the protest. Social activist and anti-nuclear leader Vaishali Patil has been slapped with a notice for externment from Ratnagiri under the Mumbai Police Act 1951. The Nate police, in Ratnagiri district, issued the notice citing two cases pending in the court against her and ordered Vaishali Patil to appear before the sub-divisional officer of Ratnagiri.