NAGAPATTINAM/KARAIKAL:The ‘Nuclear-Free Tamil Nadu’ rail campaign by the anti-nuclear activist and convener of People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) S P Udayakumar reached Nagapattinam and Karaikal towns on Saturday.
The campaign aims at shutting down the first and second units in Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant, closure of Neutrino Observatory in Theni district and the proposed Nuclear Waste Research Centre near Madurai. Upon arrival, Udayakumar demanded that the DMK and AIADMK publicly disclose their stance on nuclear energy and other proposed controversial projects, including neutrino observatory, coming up in the State.
Later, addressing media at Nagapattinam railway station, he said, “In the name of development, governments are giving away our natural resources to private companies. Methane exploration would devastate the farm activities and affect the groundwater table in Cauvery delta districts and Central government should scrap the project.”
Stating that political parties, especiallly the two major Dravidian parties, have been silent on the controversial nuclear power projects and neutrino observatory project, Udayakumar asked the two parties to disclose their stance on such projects.
The members of the group raised slogans seeking the closure of first and second units of Koodankulam plant in Nagapattinam and later they left for Karaikal.