2. HISTORY:
1)Background: An Inter-Governmental Agreement(IGA) on the
projectwas signed on 20 November1988 by then Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi and then Soviet head of state Mikhail Gorbachev, for the
construction of two reactors. The projectremained in limbo for a decade
due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.There were also objections from
the United States, on the grounds that the agreementdid not meetthe
1992 terms of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). M R Srinivasan, Atomic
Energy Commission(AEC)Chairman from 1987 to 1990,called the project
"a non-starter". However, the projectwas revived on 21 June 1998.
2)construction history: Construction began on 31 March 2002,
with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) predicting that the first
unit would be operational in March 2007,instead of the original target of
December2007.
A small port became operational in Kudankulam on 14 January 2004.This
port was established to receive barges carrying over-sized light water
reactor equipment from ships anchored at a bring the total capacity of the
power plant to 6,800 MW or 6.8 GW.distance of 1.5 kilometres.Until 2004,
materials had to be brought in via road from the port of Thoothududi, risking
damage during transportation. In 2008,negotiations on building four
additional reactors at the site began. Though the capacity of these reactors
will be 1,200 MW or 1.2 GW. has not been declared,it was expected that
the capacity of each reactor
3. INTRODUCTION:
India has developed an installed capacity of 5,340 MW from wind power
just over the last decadecompared to 3580 MW from nuclear power developed
over the last five decades. Nuclear power is expensive and dangerous. Its raw
material is in short supply, as a result of which India is forced to sign a deal with
the US, and scientists have no idea how to disposeoff its radioactive waste. Wind
power is dependent on naturally flowing wind which is in abundant supply
available for free and doesn’tgenerate any regular waste. That is probably why the
Koodankulam nuclear power plant has installed eight wind mills inside its
premises.
The deal, which does not have approval of the Indian parliament is not in
the interest of people of this country and must be rejected. India must implement
strict international safeguards in handling nuclear technology and materials and
must develop an environment friendly power programme based on renewable
resources. India has enough potential in solar and wind energy.
Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant is a nuclear power station currently
under construction in Koodankulam in the Tirunelveli district of the southern
Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Project investment costto India was estimated to be
US$ 3.5 billion agreement in a 2001.
4. Basic common component:
1)Fuel – Uranium, a radioactive, heavy metal ore, is the most common fuel for
nuclear reactors. Following the enrichment process,uranium becomes a very
concentrated fuel.A commercial nuclear reactor requires thousands of pounds of
enriched uranium fuel in order to operate. Civilian nuclear power plants in the U.S.
purchase approximately 50
2)Control Rods – Made from neutron-absorbing material such as cadmium,
hafnium, or boron, controlrods are inserted or withdrawn from the coreto control
the rate of reaction or to stop it if necessary.
3)Moderator – Material in the reactor core which slows down the neutrons
released from fission so they cause more fission.The moderator is usually ordinary
(light) water, but may be heavy water (D20) or graphite.
4)Coolant – Liquid or gas that circulates through the core to transfer the heat from
it. In light water reactors the water moderator also functions as primary coolant.
5)Containment – Nuclear reactors are encased in heavily reinforced concrete
structures to prevent radioactivity from escaping into the atmosphere.
Nuclear Reactor Types
Worldwide, various types of nuclear power reactors are used. However, the most
common types are pressurized water reactors (PWR) and boiling water reactors
(BWR), which are classified as light water reactors.In the plant, PWR and BWR
are the only two types of commercial nuclear power plants in operation.
1. Boiling water reactor (BWR)
2.Pressurized water reactor (PWR)
3. CANDU and heavy water moderated reactors
4.Pebble bed modular reactor
5. Run through of Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil
Nadu :
1988 MOU signed between India and Soviet for construction of Nuclear
Power Plant in India.
1990 First phase of protest was held for opposing the diversion of water
from Pechiparai dam.
1998 Till 1998 the project of agreement was put on hold due to break up in
Soviet.
2000 Constructionof Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant Started Before
2004 – Road has used as the mode of Transportfor Reactors to be used in
power plant.
2004 Small Port was been constructed for transportation and become
operational in Koodankulam.
2007 MOU was signed between India and Russian to promote Nuclear
Energy.
2008 The KNPP team decided to go for additional four reactors at the atomic
station.
2009 The first schedule project will begin in December 2009.
2011 First schedule of operation begins in June. In the middle of March
2011 India has started the main stage of equipment tests at first nuclear
power unit of Koodankulam under construction. The commissioned of
Nuclear project will be on April 2011 Several protest from public towards
KNPP. 2012 Second schedule plan of operation will be on March.
6. Conclusion:
Several protests by public and statement from central government and state
political parties are being raised as an issue to find an opt solution. The
government should be in a position to think about the situation of its people. There
are several ways to generate power and the government should not build up these
types of plants as it threatens the life of the people and creates disaster.
Government should think about the people or else to depend on the electricity
needed for the people.
To conclude, by understanding the importance of public and it safety the current
communication gap and relationship with the power plant team and public can be
highly reduced. Moreover with several campaigns and programs conducted in the
public, knowledge about power plant its importance and safety measures can be
highly conveyed and educated to the people will let both public and government us
to have an end towards the issue. The role the committee plays a vital role in
producing a decisive report which could satisfy all the stakeholders involved in the
Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant. The public can also realize the practicality of
the project and it’s necessity for the state before blindly opposingit