A State-level conference was organized on December 29, 2011 from 9:00 AM till 5:00 PM at Kanyakumari to demand the immediate closure of the Koodankulam Nuckear Power Project (KKNPP) that threatens the rights to life and livelihood of the people of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Prominent scientists, engineers, physicians, journalists, political leader and social activists participated in the day-long conference. In the foreman session, experts spoke about the various aspects of the KKNP and the overall dangers and risks of nuclear power. Mr. M. G. Devasahayam, IAS (Retd.) presided over the session.

In the afternoon session, political leaders, environmentalists and activists spoke about the politics, economics and dangers of nuclear power plants, environmental impact of the koodankulam plants, the threats posed by nuclear power to the natural resources and the future generations and so forth.

While Dr. S. P. Udayakumar, Coordinator of the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) presided over the afternoon session, Mr. Mano Thangaraj, the Coordinator of the political wing of PMANE delivered the opening address. Mr. Selestin of PMANE-Kanyakumari proposed the vote of thanks. Several cultural groups such as Kalari, Murasu, and Makkal Manram performed cultural programs at the conference. More than 15,000 people participated in the conference.

The Conference passed the following resolutions:

[1] The central government must scrap the KKNPP that has given rise to serious fears and concerns among the people of Tamil Nadu. As the first step, authorities must remove the Uranium fuel rods from the KKNPP project site immediately.

[2] Although the people are fighting against the KKNPP all over the state without caste and religious considerations, the central government tries to create such fissures among the struggling people and this conference condemns such devious vehemently.

[3] The Conference declares that the central government in acting against the interests of the Tamil people and Tamil Nadu as it has been behaving with indifference in issues such as the Eelam War IV, the killing of Tamil fisherman, Mullaiperiyar dam issue, the three-Tamils capital punishment issue, Katchatheevu problem and so forth.

[4] The Conference demands that the DMK withdraw its support to the Congress-led coalition government since supporting the central government amounts to the betrayal of the Tamil people.

[5] The Conference demands that the Tamil Nadu Congress party that has lost its support of the Tamil people and stands isolated stop its pro-nuclear activities and start working for the well-being of the people.

[6] The Conference demands that the central government give sufficient power from the Central Pool to Tamil Nadu and grant the reguested funds and helps to generate power from non-nuclear sources.

[7] The Conference Demands that both the central government and the state government prevent the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) from spreading untruthful information about nuclear power in the media by utilizing people’s tax money. The Conference demands further that the central government and the DAE furnish complete accounts of the KKNPP and explain the financial improprieties in the project.

[8] The Conference condemns the anti-people activities of various entities the belittle the valiant struggle to project life and rights of the Tamil people.

[9] The Conference condemns the efforts to take water to the KKNPP project from the Pechiparai dam that is the life source for the people of Kanyakumari district.

[10] The Central government had publicly assured to the government and people of Tamil Nadu to respect the Tamil Nadu Cabinet Resolution to halt all the works at the KKNPP until the fears and concern of the people are allayed. However, the central government went on its assurance when the Prime Minister announced in Russia that the first Koodankulam reactor would be operational “in a couple of weeks”. The Conference condemns this callous and untruthful attitude of the central government.

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