Panels must meet in Jayas presence: Medha

MADURAI: The expert committee on Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant Project (KKNPP) set up by the Centre and the panel of People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) should meet in the presence of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, said Medha Patkar, Convenor, National Alliance of People’s Movements.Talking to reporters, here on Monday after a meeting of representatives of various people’s movements in Tamil Nadu, she said the struggle against the KKNPP was a struggle of the locals. The Chief Minister should take a decision on the project after participating in a joint meeting of the expert panels of the Union Government and the PMANE. “Government should not listen to the pro-nuclear energy experts alone. It should listen to the views of other experts who are working with the people also,” she said. PMANE experts have raised right questions on safety aspects of the plant, she said. On the contentious issue of the Mullaiperiyar dam, she said, “Irrigation for farmers and safety of people should be ensured.” People’s movements should join together to solve the issue. Partisan politics should be put away.”D Gabriele, convenor of NAPM (Tamil Nadu), R Ramesh of Doctors for Safer Environment and a member of the PMANE’s expert panel, Mano Thangaraj, convenor of Political wing of PMANE, Leelavathi, State Secretary of the Unorganised Workers association, were present.