CHENNAI: The agitation surrounding the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant were discussed threadbare in a stormy debate among college students in the city on Saturday. Around 20 students participated in the debate and the general opinion seemed to tilt in favour of the nuclear power project, even as the debaters balanced their support for the power plant with calls to the Centre to ramp up measures to soothe the fears of local communities. They discussed all aspects of the issue, from scientific to political and social impact.“I visited Koodankulam and Idinthakarai recently. I saw women and children land up in trucks to raise slogans and songs against the power plant. I joined them in song, but I did not give them my support. I explained to some of them that the plant could led to increased job opportunities for the local community. The agitation is rooted around a general lack of understanding, that is being taken advantage of, and fear that has set in thanks to the disaster at Fukushima. Neither the Centre nor State governments are taking any steps to allay the fear of the people,” said S Arul, of Loyola College. His were adjudged the best arguments of the debate, with constructive suggestions to improve the situation, such as provision of disaster insurance to local communities, setting up of hospitals offering free treatment, and creating awareness.Other speakers launched fiery tirades both for and against the contentious power plant on a number of planks. The debated the probability of nuclear catastrophe, argued over the methods employed and insisted that their points of view were based on the need for electricity and popular perception of the plant.The debate was organised jointly by Nandini Voice for the Deprived and the Chemical Industries Association. Koodankulam Expert Committee member Dr WS Aruldoss Kanthaiah and senior nuclear scientist Daniel Chellappa spoke to the students after they had presented their arguments and clarified misconceptions and misgivings over the power plant.
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