40 feared dead in Iran, 20 in Pakistan; shockwaves felt in North India

Pakistan, specifically Balochistan, appears to have borne the brunt of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Iranian border province of Sistan-Baluchestan on Tuesday afternoon. While Pakistan confirmed the death of at least 20 people following the earthquake, there were conflicting reports from Tehran which ranged from no deaths to 40 dead. However, given the remoteness of the region from both capitals, the last word has not been said on the casualties.

A high-level environment ministry panel has recommended coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) clearance for setting up a desalination unit at Kudankulam Nuclear Power plant (KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu.

The Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the decks for building two more 1,000 MW nuclear power units at Kudankulam by giving the go-ahead to the Russian offer of about Rs 40,000 crore for the project days before it lapsed.

The decision came right after the Department of Atomic Energy informed the government that the first reactor in Kudankulam would go critical this month. The movement on the project is also vital to the tough stand the Jayalalithaa government in Tamil Nadu has taken against protesters in a bid to meet its poll claims to improve the power situation in the state.

Experts say the membership will help India procure more fuel and nuclear components

Indian nuclear experts have told Business Standard that it is an opportune time for the country to gain membership of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG), despite reservations expressed by China and some smaller European states such as Ireland, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The experts strongly feel that this would not only help India procure more fuel and nuclear components, but also be an opportunity for the Indian industry to aggressively tap the global market.

As flow of funds for Kudankulam nuclear power plant protests come under scanner, a whopping Rs 30 lakh transfer from London to the bank account of a woman, whose husband is linked to the stir, has led to suspicions prompting police to file a case against her.

The case against Ambika under Sec 102 CrPC has been registered by police after a branch of Canara bank here reported the transfer of Rs 29,98,782 into her savings bank account, Police said today.

When contacted on the allegations of environmentalists that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, prepared by Engineers India Limited (EIL), withheld “crucial information” on the safety

Having been delayed by over a year, the first unit of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant is likely to get operational sometime next month, the government said on Wednesday.

Rajkot: Thousands of farmers walked out from a public hearing in Nana Navagam organized by Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) for the proposed 6000 MW nuclear power plant at Mithi Virdi in Bhav

Villagers boycott public hearing on environment impact assesment report

Hundreds of farmers from villages that are likely to be affected by the proposed nuclear power project in Mitihivirdi, Bhavnagar, on Tuesday, walked out of the public hearing on the project environment impact assessment (EIA) report. They have been opposing the proposed nuclear power plant (NPP), with six light water reactors (LWR) of 1000 MW capacity each, since the project was announced on the grounds that it would cause irreparable damage to environment there.

Large number of farmers and environmentalists will gather at a mega congregation in Mithi Virdi village of Bhavnagar district on Monday to oppose tooth and nail the 6,000 MW nuclear power plant proposed at this coastal site.

The congregation comes just a day before the crucial public hearing to be conducted by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) at Navagam (nava) village. On March 5, NPCIL has organized the public hearing on the environment assessment report (EIA) on the first-phase 1,000 MW project that involves setting up of six light water reactors. The report has been prepared by Engineers India Limited (EIL).