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| Protesters at the Kudankulam Nuclear site |
The attempt of this post will be to move beyond the “Nuclear
Power- Bad, Renewable Energy- Good” vitriol of the current debate.
While nuclear power does come with its risks the demand from
protesters for a complete close-down of all nuclear plants is naïve. The last 20 years have demonstrated the
advantages of a booming economy on our society. Poverty has reduced, literacy
levels have gone up, life-styles have improved and on most social indicators
there are good improvements. But, a lot of work remains to be done and for that
we will have to further improve the economy (besides other things which will be
discussed). Generation of enough power will be a very important component in
developing the economy and while renewable sources should be preferred there
remain technical and feasibility barriers to the current technology.
The risks associated with nuclear power are well-known. Nuclear
accidents and their fall-outs are well-documented. It is not easy to argue
against the risks and no such attempt is being made. On the contrary every risk
issue needs to be brought to the fore and a thorough understanding of the same
should be mandated. But, there are 435 functioning nuclear power plants in the
world today, 20 in our own country. The technology has been around for 60 years
and in years to come it will only get better. The technology needs to be given
a chance and should not be dismissed outright. What is needed is not risk
avoidance but risk management.
Any leader in the protest movement is termed ‘a messiah’ by
the media and the public. Nuclear power plants are not being built for the
risks they create but for the power they will generate and the positive multiplier
effects of that initiative on society. The protesters and their leaders need to
come out with viable alternatives.
If there are suitable
alternatives with fewer risks then they should be pursued. If not, then we come
to managing the risks associated with nuclear technology. Residents around the
power plant will need to be re-located, safety and risk mitigating efforts will
need to be tracked thoroughly, and continuous monitoring of radiation and other
data will have to be initiated and very importantly in case of an accident- the
process flow of the reaction will need to be properly prepared.
Civil society should be engaged in auditing and scrutinizing
these parameters. The public needs to ensure that those being forced to move
are properly compensated, that structures are in place to deal with any
eventuality and most importantly that there is a functioning and prompt legal
system to serve justice in case there is a need. By focusing on these civil
society would be doing great service towards itself. The social infrastructure that would be built
around these initiatives will long out last any nuclear power plant and will
bring about many positive consequences on society.
