Ever since the catastrophic annihilation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the “N” word, has been giving humanity the night mares. The word nuclear sends shivers down the spines of the educated; the illiterate are ignorant of its existence and won’t be able to fathom the repercussion of a nuclear holocaust.
Even then man has marched on in the field of nuclear or atomic feasibility, as a result of which a lot of good has come to mankind especially in the field of medicine and treatment for once most dreaded and untreatable diseases. It has also enhanced the power and the research sectors by leaps and bounds, all this is attained at a cost; a risk to humanity itself.
Can any one forget Chernobyl, the disaster in Ukraine, in 1986? There have been several others in the US and other parts of the world over the years. In India we have witnessed what chemicals and gases like methyl isocyanate can do during the Union Carbide disaster in Bopal in 1984, which is just a mere miniscule exponent compared to the nuclear intensity. So, the whole wide world is seeking an answer to one question, should we risk the wellbeing of our civilization for scientific and civil benefits? Is it really worth the risk?
In Goa MP Shantaram Naik of late seems like a man seeking redemption but unfortunately moving around in circles in the dark. He has raised an issue regarding the safety of the nuclear facility in Karnataka, which is in very close proximity with Goa and the other being the proposed nuclear facility in Maharashtra, again in very close proximity with Goa but on the opposite side and rightly fears for the worst in case of a nuclear meltdown as Goa will be sandwiched in between and nowhere to run. His concerns are appreciated but what I cannot understand is his asking for the safety standards of the two facilities, I am sure everyone will agree that the Japanese safety standards could well be one of the highest or the best, even far better than the US. But today we are witnesses to the fact that the best of safety standards do not withstand the fury and the force of nature. So if MP Shantaram is well and truly worried about the welfare of Goa and Goans try getting support for the closure of the one in operation or stop the other from being operational, nothing in between will and can save Goa and Goans in case of a nuclear meltdown.
Secondly, nuclear as well as chemical contamination is spread mainly through air and water; these two are called “elements” in science along with fire. Lay siege to these two elements and civilization will cease to exist. In Goa rampant mining has laid siege to these to elements for monetary gains. People living in hinterland are the victims of this siege even after all the opposition; our government does not hear the cries for help. It would do a lot of good for MP Shantaram Naik to personally look into this matter where he will find a good number of his own fellow politicians and party men actually forcing a mining meltdown into the lungs and stomachs of Goans living in and along the entire mining zone, the mining meltdown may not be as devastating as a nuclear meltdown but it is devastating none the less. If MP Shantaram Naik is as keen as he shows to be, give justice to these people who are breathing, drinking and eating mining dust. Can you do it Mr. MP?
Regarding the nuclear plant coming up at Jaitapur in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, I have already written two articles, one "THE JAITAPUR NUCLEAR PLANT" has already been posted here, while the other "MORE ON THE JAITAPUR NUCLEAR PLANT" will also be posted shortly, hopefully. All are invited to read and, kindly, offer comments. The Jaitapur Nuclear Plant SHOULD BE STOPPED.
ReplyDeleteOur well-intentioned Rajya Sabha MP should first devote his attention to "the mining meltdown into the lungs and stomachs of Goans living in and around the mining zone. Then take up the matter of the Central Government reversing the decision on the Jaitapur plant.