In court: SHC extends stay on nuclear plants
The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) to submit their replies on an application of two interveners seeking to join the proceedings against the establishment of nuclear power plants in Karachi.
A division bench was hearing a petition that had challenged the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency's report that approved the establishment of the two nuclear power plants. On Wednesday, Amina Jilani and Roland De Souza, requested the court to allow them to join the proceedings. The petitioner’s lawyer requested for time to seek instructions from his clients on the counter-affidavit filed by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) on the last hearing.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2014.
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Wild and highly irresponsible statements such as “Lives of hundreds and thousands are at risk” from reactor accidents, either reflect total ignorance of reality or a biased intent. They are completely contrary to the facts about past reactor accidents. There have been three significant accidents in the 50 year history of the nuclear power industry, none of which resulted in any immediate radiation-related casualties among the members of the general public. For the most recent one, at Fukushima, in the study released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2013, even long-term cancer fatalities have been estimated to be almost negligible.
By making the PAEC and PNRA to submit reports regarding environmental Impact assessment then this shows that anti-nuclear lobby is strongly playing its evil part in creating hindrances and hurdles in making the country to progress on the roads to success and also to make it self sufficient to fulfill the country's increasing energy demands. PAEC in collaboration with PNRA and other related establishments have previously gave presentations to the people of sindh and they feel no hesitation in presenting it again. Our nuclear establishments and their respective directorates are concerned about the fears of people. And they will do it more conveniently in order to make the Karachiites and others satisfied.
Our country is passing through the acute time period due to energy shortage. The development of two new Karachi nuclear power plants is being designed to meet up the pace of increased energy demands. The related authorities have been directed to speed up the work as soon as possible. But the stay order is become a big hindrance for developments. If we really end energy crisis, we need to rely on nuclear as it is the only credible and efficient source for Pakistan.