Kudankulam Case 1

A CASE STUDY APPROACH ON KOODANKULAM
NUCLEAR POWER PROJECT
Dr. J. P. Kumar
Professor, GEM Business Academy, Gobichettipalayam
Email: [email protected]
Ms. R.Ambigai,
Assistant Professor, Department of MBA, SSKCET, Coimbatore
Email: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
As a developing nation we need energy to support our future industrial & domestic
needs. But the way to generate this energy does not depend solely on nuclear energy.
Throughout the world many developed countries are shutting down their nuclear
reactors and starts looking into alternative ways to produce energy in a safer and
greener way. India can achieve its future needs but it will not be the safe for the
countrys internal security and safety.
Koodankulam is a place in the Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated
25 km north-east of Kanyakumari and 35 km from Nagercoil.
The place is notable as the construction site of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.
It is also the location of hundreds of windmills used for power generation, eight of
which are located inside the grounds of the nuclear plant.
Since the beginning of 2011, this place has been embroiled in a nuclear plant
controversy over its safety by its people. Recently there have been several struggles by
local people against the project. Local people are afraid that in case of a natural
disaster the reactor may blast. This paper will deal about the various dimensions of
Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant with both its positive & negative sides.
Keywords: Koodankulan, Nuclear, Power, Project, Electrical Energy, Nuclear
Reactors, Tirnelveli, Tamilnadu, KNPP
A Case Study Approach on Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project
Introduction
India has developed an installed capacity of 5,340 MW from wind power just over the
last decade compared to 3580 MW from nuclear power developed over the last five
decades. Nuclear power is expensive and dangerous. Its raw material is in short
supply, as a result of which India is forced to sign a deal with the US, and scientists
have no idea how to dispose off its radioactive waste. Wind power is dependent on
naturally flowing wind which is in abundant supply available for free and doesnt
generate any regular waste. That is probably why the Koodankulam nuclear power
plant has installed eight wind mills inside its premises.
The deal, which does not have approval of the Indian parliament is not in the interest
of people of this country and must be rejected. India must implement strict
international safeguards in handling nuclear technology and materials and must
develop an environment friendly power programme based on renewable resources.
India has enough potential in solar and wind energy.
In a public hearing conducted by the people, after the authorities had postponed their
public hearing thrice, in Tuticorin on March 30, 2007, there was an informed
unanimity in opposition to the nuclear power plant. The speakers consisted of
ordinary fisherfolk, priests, intellectuals, doctors and scientists. As it happens in any
big project the people who get affected the worst are poor.
Dr Kuglandi from Kalpakkam informed that based on random sampling it was found
that 2-4 cancer deaths in a population of one lakh per year is normal. However, in
Kalpakkam this ratio is 3 in a population of 25,000. The tourists who come to
Mamallapuram avoid eating the fish here, which strangely enough does not attract
flies like it does elsewhere.
Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant is a nuclear power station currently under
construction in Koodankulam in the Tirunelveli district of the southern Indian state of
Tamil Nadu. Project investment cost to India was estimated to be US$ 3.5 billion in a
2001 agreement.
History of Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant
In 1988, during Rajiv Gandhi period a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) for
construction of nuclear power plant in India was signed between two countries India
and Soviet (Russia). But due to several factors from political and economic crisis the
project has been put on hold since there was a breakup in soviet and moreover with
the objection from US stating that the agreement signed didn't meet up with the
current Terms and Conditions from the group of nuclear suppliers.
Previously before 2004 the water reactor equipment was brought through roads as
their mode of transport from Tuticorin port and due to various difficulties of damages
incurred during its transportation it decided to select a Naval point base and come up
with an idea to develop a small port near the tip of the country and they felt the best
place would be Koodankulam in southern part of Tamil Nadu and then a small port
become operational on January 14, 2004 and the main purpose of its construction is to
Namex International Journal of Management Research
168
Vol. No. 2, Issue No. 1, Jan-June 2012

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A CASE STUDY APPROACH ON KOODANKULAM

NUCLEAR POWER PROJECT

A Case Study Approach on Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project

Namex International Journal of Management Research

Vol. No. 2, Issue No. 1, Jan-June 2012

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