The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) on Tuesday clarified that the Kolar Gold Mines was not a site for disposal of nuclear waste from the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant.
In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the NPCIL averred that nothing stated in its earlier affidavit dated November 7, 2012, on the issue of management of spent fuel, should be read to suggest that the NPCIL had identified Kolar Gold Mine as one of the sites for storage of nuclear waste.
A section of the media reported that the Kolar gold mine area in Karnataka was being considered as a site for disposal of waste from the K-plant, triggering a controversy and subsequent protests. This was prominently covered in the media.
To scotch any such misunderstandings, the NPCIL on Tuesday filed a short affidavit, stating: “NPCIL filed an affidavit dated November 7, 2012 on the issue of management of spent fuel. The contents thereof have been sought to be misinterpreted by a section of the media.”
“Considering the sensitivity of the subject and the intense public interest in the matter, NPCIL is filing the present supplementary affidavit to clarify the matter as follows.”
“That nothing stated in Para 26 of the affidavit or otherwise should be read to suggest that NPCIL has identified Kolar Gold Mine of BGML located in South India as one of the sites for storage of nuclear waste.”
The affidavit was filed by NPCIL executive director Ashok Chauhan. The case has been posted to Dec 4.