Kudankulam: Logjam continues over the Kudankulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu after Central and state expert committees met over over its safety concerns.
Representatives of protesters say they have given 50 questions raising their concerns to the central committee.
Sources said that the meeting between central experts and state govt representatives ended without a breakthrough and the talks proved to be inconclusive.
The meeting took place at the Tirunelvelli Collector's office. This comes after former President APJ Abdul kalam proposed a Rs 200 crore package as a sop to the protestors. But they are unconvinced and the protests and a relay hunger strike continued.
The committees formed to solve the row surrounding the Kudankulam Nuclear plant met on Tuesday morning. This comes a day after Kalam gave assurances about the plant's safety but refused to act as a negotiator.
However not even Kalam's visit has convinced the people living near Kudankulam about the safety of the nuclear plant. Villagers like Selvi continued their fast against the plant despite strong assurances from the former president.
Selvi said, "he came here as a scientist and declared everything is safe. But we are not accepting his claims. We have been protesting for so long and have raised few concerns which has to be addressed."
The participants of the protest against the nuclear plant are primarily villagers from the area and they have been led by Udaykumar, an anti-nuclear activist.
Sources say that the local church in the arrea has also been active in galvanising the protest.
Mary, 68, explains that the biggest catalyst behind the stir was the Fukushima Daichii plant being hit by the tsunami in Japan. She says it created instant fear for the people in the area who had witnessed the tsunami which struck India in 2004
"Our movement is not based on any caste, religion or political party. We are sparing part of our income to organise this struggle," Mary added.
The atmospehere at the protest site is very subdued, as the place is empty as compared to few weeks back. The protesters claim that the relay fast is a symbol of their struggle and people participate in it on a rotation basis.
They pointed out that even in 1988, when work started on the project there were protests, but the sudden re-eruption just ahead of the plant being commissioned has thrown everything out of gear.
The state government's shrugged off responsiblity from the stir, while the Centre is trying to convince protestors to call it off.
Meanwhile, the local villagers say there is no question of a compromise leaving uncertainty to cloud over the future of the Kudankulam plant.
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