Electric power is a growing need in a developing country like India to sustain the industrial development and meet the rising demands of escalating population. Nuclear power is a least power option to a nation to go for it while planning to augment the supply gap or constructing new units in the country.

When US forces bombarded Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan with nuclear bomb, several thousands of people died and injured. The tragedy after 6 decades of bombing continues as the impact is being felt by the people living in that place even now. Deformation, impairment and many such illnesses leading to lessen their life are witnessed everyday by the people.

Radiations, alfa, beta and gama, emanating from a nuclear substance like Uranium, Plutonium, Thorium etc. can change even the genetic codes ultimately in a human cell leading to irrecoverable illness after long exposure to radiation and also death. In a nuclear explosion major release of radioactive material with wide spread health and environmental effects leading to several deaths from radiation, water and food grown are also receiving the effects. The human body can be irradiated by at least three processes causing Thermal burns, Beta burns and gamma penetrations from infrared heat radiation, Radiation poisoning, also called "radiation sickness" or a "creeping dose", is a form of damage to organ tissue due to excessive exposure to ionizing radiation. The term is generally used to refer to acute problems caused by a large dosage of radiation in a short period, though this also has occurred with long term exposure to low level radiation. Many of the symptoms of radiation poisoning occur as ionizing radiation interferes with cell division. There are numerous lethal radiation syndromes including prodromal syndrome, bone marrow death, central nervous system death and gastrointestinal death.

Nuclear explosion in Chernobyl on 26 April 1986 and Fukushima on 11 March 2011, not only devastated the region but also made so many people victims to it. Most of the deaths were from radiation induced cancer and leukemia, acute radiation syndrome. It is always said that safety is ensured in all aspects to take care of the inhabitants and all control mechanism is inbuilt to tackle any eventuality when a nuclear power plant is built. In spite of all safety measures to control, contain and stop explosion, no one can assure that nothing will happen. Accidents are prone to happen. Failure of human action evidenced in most of the accident cases.

In history, there are 7 major explosions since 1952 and in total 33 serious accidents and accidents were recorded including the Fukushima, the recent one. Out of 33, USA accounts for 6, Japan 5, UK 3, Russia 3, Canada 1 and other countries 1 each.

When a ship, say Titanic, sinks, 2000 (maximum) may drown and die, while a train collides with another, 1000 passengers may face the death or a plane crash may lead to a toll of 300 on board but a nuclear explosion may create a huge disaster of life loss, injuries, and may carry the syndrome from generation to generation. Devastation of the region is imminent and living there is not suitable for many years.

The opposition to the Kudamkulam Nuclear Power Plant is based on the fact that the people living near and around the region would be wiped out with all living things if an explosion occurs. Whatever safety and security parameters envisaged in the planning to avert or avoid it, there is no guaranty about no accident will happen because such assurances were given by the authorities of Chernobyl and Fukushima before explosion.

When Bhopal methyl iso cyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide India plant on 2 & 3, December 1984, hundreds of thousands of civilians were exposed to inhale the gas. Who got killed – the innocent people? Or owners of the plant or ministers who sanctioned the project? Union Power Minister is very safely sitting in the capital while nuclear scientists live in cities but poor villagers become the immediate targets. So, the concern of villagers can be justified and cannot be ignored. A democratic Government has its priority duty to protect its citizens against attacking enemy countries, natural calamities, nuclear disasters and any explosions of greater degree.

No one will plan a nuclear facility in a city like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Chennai because not only common people live there but also ministers, political leaders and all big shots dwell there. When Koodamkulam is suitable for a nuclear project, why not Chennai or Mumbai or Kolkata? Why the NPC do not choose these cities? Who will explain this factor?

There are not too little options to choose a location for power plant. If a nuclear power plant is the only source why can’t the planners, advisers and scientists think of differently? India has several barren small islands in Andaman, Nicobar region and Lakshadweep region also, vast forests, unpopulated hill tops, small mountains and even deserts like Pokhran to identify and study the viability. The idea of selecting any one of these options would not be a bad choice. A location, where inhabitants are absent or barren island completely might be suitable to build a nuclear facility. Some may raise concerns like hydrology, ecology, transportation etc. but all these concerns could be addressed without difficulty with some additional cost. There might be issues of security, disadvantage and need of heavy resources, compare to the human lives, they are insignificant.

Having known the disastrous nuclear elements and their use in nuclear plants a country may opt out of using them for the benefit of mass of people. It is not the villagers of Idinthakarai to face the potential danger, all citizens of India. It is not a local problem but a national one. Will the people of India and democratic Government think about this seriously?

 Support or Oppose welcome