Villagers fast for closure of KKNPP

TIRUNELVELI: The agitation against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) has turned into a mass movement as around 10,000 villagers from 13 coastal villages staged a fast at Idinthakarai on Tuesday, demanding immediate closure of the plant.  It may be noted that protests demanding closure of KKNPP have intensified in the past one week, with people from Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari districts coming together for the agitation.  “The agitation has become a great success as more people than expected participated in the fast,” Fr Jayakumar of Idinthakarai said.Villagers from Koodankulam, Idinthakarai, Kootapuli, Periyathalai, Manapad, Levinjipuram, Kooduthalai, Vijayapathy, Uvari, Kootapanai, Perumanal, Kaamaneri, Kurinkikulam, participated in the protest.“These villages include a few from Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari districts also,” he said, adding, “a three-day fast would be staged at Koodankulam from Wednesday.”  Apart from the fast, around 5,000 country boat fishermen stayed away from sea and students of these villages boycotted classes also.“Shops were also closed in Koodankulam and Idinthakarai villages and black flags were hoisted to show their opposition,” a protestor said. It may be recalled that around four villages in Tirunelveli district and one in Thoothukudi passed a resolution demanding immediate closure of KKNPP, during the Gram Sabha meeting held on Monday.Anti-nuclear activist M Pushparayan said that a committee comprising members from Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari was formed on Tuesday. “The committee was formed to make the agitation against KKNPP effective with the coordination of people from these three districts.The fast came to an end by 5 pm, following which they submitted a petition.In the petition, they stressed a four-point charter, which includes permanent closure of KKNPP, suspension of the ongoing ‘hot run’, stopping the proposed safety drill that is scheduled for August 28 and withdrawal of cases foisted against the agitators. “People from these three districts will participate in the three-day fast at Koodankulam that is set to begin from Wednesday,” Sahaya Initha of National Fisherwomen Federation informed.