Koodankulam protestors to resume fast from May 1

Reviving their protests against the commissioning of Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant, activists of People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy on Monday said they would go ahead with their indefinite fast from Tuesday.

Protesters, including people of villages in and around Koodankulam, have been demanding scrapping of the Indo-Russian project since August last, citing safety concerns.

PMANE had earlier threatened that they would go on an indefinite fast from May 1 alleging the district officials had not kept their promises made last month including withdrawal of "false" cases against some activists.

M Pushparayan, one of the leaders spearheading the protests, told PTI that they announced that the protest would be resumed on May 1.

"...There was no action from the government. During the meeting with our activists today, the district collector asked for two days time. But since we have already decided to go ahead with our plan, we would sit for the indefinite hunger-strike from Tuesday," he said.

The fast would be stressing on six major demands, he said. "Our primary  demand is that the government should set up a panel with geological, hydrological experts to study the plant," he said.

A 12-member PMANE team led by Arimavalavan on Monday held talks with the Tirunelveli District Collector and highlighted their demands.

PMANE co-ordinator S P Udayakumar and his supporters had on March 28 withdrawn their nine-day-long indefinite fast after a delegation led by the Tirunelveli collector agreed to examine their demands. They launched the indefinite fast after the state cabinet had on March 19 given its go-ahead for commissioning of the first of the two reactors.