Tirunelveli: In the backdrop of the four-member expert panel set up by the Tamil Nadu government giving a virtual clean chit to the Koodankulam Nuclear Power
Plant (KNPP), the People`s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), spearheading the protests against the project, has launched a 72-hour fast here over the issue.
The KNPP should be closed and the four-member State panel had "disrespected" the State government by virtually giving a clean chit to the Plant over its safety aspects even before submitting its report to the government, PMANE coordinator
S P Udayakumar, said here.
Members of the State panel had, on Feb 19, told reporters after inspecting the Plant that it was equipped with measures to deal with situations such as tsunami and earthquakes even as it held talks with anti-nuclear activists.
Around 4,000 people participated in the fast yesterday, which started at midnight on Feb 20, coinciding with Mahashivaratri Day. Out of this, 150 persons are on relay fast.
Reacting to the State panel`s views on the Plant, Udayakumar said, "we pray to god to change the stance of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister with regard to the recent state expert committee`s clean chit to the KNPP`s safety aspects".
PTI
