SC: Why safety not a priority in K-plant

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The Supreme Court on Tue­s­day pulled up the Tamil Nadu government for dism­al disaster management preparedness at the Kud­an­k­u­lam nuclear pow­er pla­nt in the state, saying the “lethargic” attitude of the authorities could cost several lives in the event of a mishap.

Making it clear that there could be no compromise on safety of the people living in the vicinity of the nucl­ear plant, a bench of justi­c­es K. S. Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra came down upon the Tamil Nadu government for absence of a substantial evacuation plan­ and directed it to submit a disaster management plan before the court.

Warning the government that “if you do not put (in place) safety measures then we will have to pass order,” the bench directed that mock drills be carried out covering all the 40 villages situated within 16 km rad­ius of the plant. The apex co­urt also directed that all safety measures to deal with a disaster must be put in place at the power plant before it is operationalised. Lashing out at the government, the bench said, “How and where will they (people) be evacuated (in the event of an accident)? Your attitude seems to be le­t­hargic... We want seriou­sness from you.”