From Volga to Ganga : The Story of Kudankulam Nu-Power golden beach Kovalam. The temple is a fine example of blend of the Kerala and Dravidian styles of architecture. The internationally renowned Kovalam beach resort, with its three adjacent crescent beaches, is a favorite tourist haunt. The National Highway No.47 (NH-47) connects Trivandrum and Kanyakumari, my sojourn en-route Kudankulam. The continuous habitats photo: A.I. Siddiqui The Padmanabhaswamy temple in along the high-way makes it difficult for Trivandrum the first time visitors to identify where India’s biggest nuclear power station one city ends and the next town begins. in being set-up at Kudankulam in But farther from Trivandrum, the rows collaboration with the Russian of houses gradually disappear Federation A.I. Siddiqui presents providing overwhelming views of paddy details in this travelogue-cum- fields, coconut grooves and banana technical feature plants all of which are closely integrated with the lives and culture of the people living in this region. The aerial view of Kanyakumari, named after Goddess Thiruvananthapuram, Trivandrum for Kanyakumari Amman, is about 80 kms short, is mesmerizing – presenting from Trivandrum. Kanyakumari, a small hues of green and blue. As the habitat in Tamil Nadu State, is a very aeroplane de- popular name among scends further, the Indians, as a pilgrim and verdant Kerala re- famous tourist spot. It veals its enthral- has the distinction of ling landscape. being the southern most The Trivandrum point of the mainland airport is comfort- India. Here, Bay of ably devoid of Bengal on one hand and clamours of hotel Arabian Sea on the other agents and taxi- meet the Indian Ocean, men. Trivandrum, presenting captivating the capital city of shades of mixing waters. The dusk and the twin rocks at the southern State Nevertheless, the world Kanyakumari - on the left is Swami Kerala is also fa- famous Vivekananda Vivekananda Rock Memorial and on mous for its Pick. author Rock temple stands tall the right statue of Thiruvalluvar Padmanabhaswamy photo: A.I. Siddiqui in the sea. The twin rocks photo: A.I. Siddiqui temple and the An artisan at Kanyakumari beach stand amid the sea embossing the sea-shells * The title of the artical is inspired by the book, ‘From Volga to Ganga’ by Rahul Sankrityayan. His Excellency, the Vice President of India and Chairman of Rajya Sabha, about the book said, “… many years ago, an Indian writer, Rahul Sankrityayan wrote a travelogue titled “From Volga to Ganga”. Even the celebrated author himself didn’t know then, that he was providing the most perfect imagery for the Indo-Russian civilisational encounter. The great rivers represent two great civilisations, and their perennial flow symbolises the permanence, the serum and the continuity of our contacts”. The Vice President was addressing the meeting of Members of Parliament, addressed by His Excellency Mr. Vladimir V. Putin, President of Russian Federation, on October 4, 2000. An International Journal of Nuclear Power - Vol. 16 No. 1-2 (2002) 35 separated by about 220 feet. The Nagercoil is named after the presiding severe salinity and alkalinity. All these famous philosopher, Swami deity Nagaraja. The Nagaraja temple factors have led to frequent crop Vivekananda meditated here on the is about 20 kms from the city. The pillars failures and very low agriculture night of December 25, 1892, a year of this temple, I am told, are adorned productivity. These adverse agriculture before his attending the Parliament of by the carvings of Jain Tirthankars, conditions have forced the local Religions in Chicago. The superb rock Mahavira and Parshivanath. population to adopt ‘beedi’ (Indian memorial has been erected to cigarette) making and fishing that yields commemorate his visit to the rock. On National Highway No.7 (NH-7) low monetary returns. Kudankulam is one of the rocks, stands 133 feet high connects Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli in Radhapuram Taluka in district statue of Thiruvalluvar, one of the most via Nagarcoil. The first leg of the Tirunelveli of Tamil Nadu State. The respected poets of Tamil, famous for journey from Kanyakumari towards Tirunelveli city is about 75 Kms in north- his work ‘Thirukural’. The height (133- Kudankulam on NH-7 presents, on east direction from Kudankulam. ft) of the sulfur-resistant statue is said both the sides of the road, serried to correspond to the 133 chapters of banana and coconut trees sandwiched The Kudankulam site was chosen by his work. Not far from the Rock between high hillocks and dancing the Site Selection Committee (SSC) of Memorial is a lighthouse, the Kumari paddy fields. Clouds floating across the the Department of Atomic Energy Amman temple and the Gandhi azure sky, Oh! What a land – picture (DAE) way back in 1987-88. The SSC Memorial where the urn containing the perfect with its surrealistic beauty and considered several aspects including ashes of Mahatma was kept before eternal mystique. the guidelines set by the International immersion. It has been designed such Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It was that the Sun’s rays fall on the same spot The journey on NH-7 ends at one among the many sites considered every 2nd October – his birthday. In fact, Kavalkinaru and we divert to a country by the SSC. Several factors related to the region has a unique landscape road to reach Kudankulam. A huge nuclear safety as also social, dotted with beautiful temples, churches wind-mill park at Kavalkinaru presents economical and environmental were and mosques distilling unity in diversity. a spectacular sight. As we approach considered by the Committee. Kudankulam, a dramatic change in the The views of sunrise and sunset from landscape can be noticed. Soon after The site is located in low seismic area, Cape Comorin or Kanyakumari are crossing the Anjugramam village, the zone-II as per the Indian Standards of memorable. It is said that it is the only vegetation becomes thorny and bushy. Classification. The classification place in India where sun-set and Coconut and banana trees almost divides the whole country in five Zones, moonrise can be seen simultaneously disappear. The soil appears barren. with zone-I having the lowest and zone on a full moon day. Going little further, the cactus bloom V the highest seismicity. The site does and ant-hills become abundant. not have any active faults in its vicinity. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Kudankulam region is in the rain The site also provides preferable Limited (NPCIL) had, until recently, its shadow area, which means very scanty foundation conditions to build the project office in Nagercoil – the district rains even during thick of rainy season. nuclear power plant upon. The site is headquarters of Kanyakumari district. This semi-arid zone has moderate to free form severe cyclonic activities all photos by: A.I. Siddiqui Road to Kudankulam: Scenes of paddy fields and coconut grooves gradually dissolve into cactus bloom and barren land as we drive towards Kudankulam site 36 Nu-Power though it lies along the coast of Gulf of imported nuclear power plant (NPP) equipment, components and materials Manar, which also provides ample when the country has its own being supplied by the Russian water for the condenser cooling. indigenous programme? Dr. V.K. Federation. Chaturuvedi, CMD, NPCIL clarifies, Mr. S.K. Jain, Director, Light Water “the two light water reactors we are The Russian Federation is funding Reactors and Kudankulam (LWR&KK), importing from the Russian Federation, almost half the project cost. The soft elaborating site specific features points and the other LWRs that we may import loan is at an interest rate of 4% per out that there were no nearby chemical in future are add-ons and will help to annum. Mr. Jain briefs the arithmetic, plants, large industries and military increase the installed nuclear capacity “the loan is to be repaid in fourteen installations as also air corridors. “That rapidly. The project will help to build a equal yearly instalments (EYIs) starting means”, says Mr. Jain, “the possibilities larger operating base, which means a year after the commencement of of explosion, fire, release of better profitability and more internal commercial operation of the plant”. inflammable, explosive, corrosive or surpluses, which will go in a long way How much does it mean? “Assuming a toxic clouds is nil and the chances of to pursue the indigenous programme nominal plant load factor of 68.5%, the loss of flight control does not exist”. more vigorously. In view of huge two units will generate electricity worth demand for power the country’s nuclear Rs. 33991 million per annum compared Kudankulam site is, nevertheless, well power programme which is poised to to the EYI of Rs. 6530 million”, explains connected by road, railways and sea. expand rapidly will become self Mr. Jain. A financially more relevant NH-7 and broad-gauge rail head at sustaining financially too”. indicator is the Debt Service Coverage Kanyakumari and the Tuticorin sea port Ratio (DSCR) which tells whether a about 100 kms, will be used by the Kudankulam project is a Rs.140 billion borrower has earned sufficient revenue project authorities to transport large mega project - the biggest ever to meet the principal and interest equipment and components to the site, undertaken by NPCIL. Explaining on commitments on the outstanding debt informs Project Director (Kudankulam), the cost of project, Dr. Chaturvedi says, after meeting the operating costs. It is Mr. S.K. Agarwal. The Kudankulam site “this is the cost of the completion of the the utility’s cash flow divided by the sum itself has been declared, recently, as a project in the year 2005-2006, including of all its debt payments.