Indefinite fast withdrawn against Kudankulam plant

Chennai, March 27 (IANS) The nine-day fast against the Kundankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) was called off Tuesday but protests against the plant will continue, an activist said.

M. Pushparayan, convenor of the Coastal People's Federation and a leader of the People's Movement AGainst Nuclear Energy (PMANE) who was on fast for nine days along with several men and women, said: "We have called off only the indefinite fast. The relay fast by villagers will continue.

"Further, boycott of schools by children, fishing by fishermen and business by shopkeepers will be on till those who were arrested and jailed by the police are released," Pushparayan told IANS from the area.

He said 10 people representing 10 coastal villages and PMANE had a discussion with the district collector and police officials at Tirunelveli for nearly two hours.

"We had demanded training to the villagers in disaster management; a copy of the inter-governmental agreement between India and Russia; the state government should ensure that the centre publishes the details of nuclear waste management of nuclear waste; revocation of the prohibitory orders in Radhapuram village; release of all those arrested for protesting against the atomic power plant; withdrawal of cases filed against them and conduct of seismic and oceanographic studies of Kudankulam areas," he said.

He said the district officials had assured the villagers that some of the issues will be taken up with the government and prohibitory orders will be confined to the areas near KNPP.

"The officials told our delegation that those who have been arrested can come out on bail while the withdrawal of the cases filed will have to take its legal course," Pushparayan said.