Nuclear concern

by N.S.Venkataraman

(March 15, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The earthquake and consequent safety threat to the nuclear power plants in Japan have confirmed the worst fears of the critics of the nuclear power projects around the world.

Japan is a country with enormous technology strength and high level of disciplined approach to issues and even this great nation finds it extremely difficult to face the present adverse conditions.


A number of developing countries in Asia , Latin America and Africa are now committing themselves to nuclear power projects . The Government of India has firmly announced that it would create nuclear power capacity of as much as around 15,000 MW in the next few years involving investment of several million US dollars .

There have been considerable opposition to nuclear power plans of Government of India by well meaning critics in India , due to several issues such as the high cost of nuclear power that would be generated , lack of disposal facility for nuclear waste and safety issues such as radiation.

In a densely populated country like India , one shudder to think about the consequences , if similar disasters were to take place in India near the nuclear power plants. God forbid.

The destruction in Japan is a grave global humanitarian issue and threat to the nuclear plants in Japan should alert United Nations Organisation and the scientific community across the world . They should take a fresh look at the advisability of setting up nuclear power projects, particularly in developing countries which may not be able to adopt the best of safety procedures due to several reasons.

It would be appropriate if UNO would set up a committee of experts who would look into the issues and provide an advisory to all the countries.