Volcanic, tsunami fears about Kudankulam unfounded, say experts | India Gazette

Volcanic, tsunami fears about Kudankulam unfounded, say experts

India Gazette (IANS) Friday 16th December, 2011

Ruling out any possibility of volcanic eruptions in the vicinity of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) site in Tamil Nadu as well as dangers of a tsunami, a central government appointed experts panel has declared that such fears are unfounded.

In its 77-page report given to the representatives of People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) and members of the Tamil Nadu government panel Thursday, the central committee said the safety of the KNPP has been thoroughly evaluated against external events of natural origin, like earthquakes and possible flooding of the site from cyclonic storms and tsunamis.

'The possibility of volcanic eruptions in the vicinity of the site has also been examined and no active volcanism has been identified. The magnitude of any possible tsunami that can be generated from submarine landslides in the Gulf of Mannar has been found to be much smaller than tsunamis that may get generated from the submarine active seismic faults, which has already been taken into consideration,' the central panel has said.

However, a report prepared by a panel of experts, formed by the PMANE, had said there is a need for studies on the volcanic hazard, karst or collapsible soil hazard and tsunami hazard on the KNPP site before reactors are commissioned.

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