THE PEOPLE'S Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) has condemned the  Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) decision to grant clearance for the ‘Initial Fuel Loading’ and ‘First Approach to Criticality’ of Unit-1 of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) as undemocratic and authoritarian.

 
Even as the country is awaiting the Madras High Court’s judgment on a batch of petitions that have challenged the legality and appropriateness of the Environmental Clearance granted to the KKNPP project, it felt that this decision amounts to contempt of court and outright insult of the rule of law in our country.
 
More interestingly, it said that the AERB has given assurance to the Madras High Court that the post-Fukushima taskforce’s recommendations would be fully implemented in all the nuclear installations in India and that no fuel loading decision at the KKNPP would be taken until then. It lamented that the current permission to load fuel at KKNPP is a gross violation of that commitment made at the Court and the sentiments of the struggling people.
 
This attitude and functioning style, PMANE lamented that is very much in congruence with the undemocratic, authoritarian and anti-people nature of the atomic energy department. It appealed that the political parties and leaders in India, especially in Tamil Nadu, the civil society leaders and the media must take a stand and protect the interests of the “ordinary citizens” of India and reassert the rule of law in our country.
 
PMANE warned that the struggling people will do whatever democratically possible to oppose the authoritarian and illegal decision of the Indian nuclear establishment.