The Indian Supreme Court today allowed commissioning of the Kudankulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu, dismissing objections by anti-nuclear activists to its establishment.

A bench of Justices K S Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra relied on the ‘unanimous’ opinions of experts over the plant’s safety and security aspects. Observing that the court should respect the national policy that is meant for ‘larger public interest,’ the bench said that the plant had to go on for controlled use of nuclear energy.

In separate but concurring judgments by the judges on the bench, the court added that nuclear energy had become necessary for the welfare of the people and asserted that nuclear energy could minimise problem of power shortage in the country.

It also said that when all the safety measures were already in place, nuclear energy was not to negate the right to life of people but to protect the right of life since it would help achieving larger public interest.

A batch of petitions was filed by anti-nuclear activists, challenging the project on the ground that safety measures recommended for the plant by an expert body have not been put in place.

They also raised various questions pertaining to the disposal of nuclear waste, the plant’s impact on the environment and the safety of people living nearby, besides other issues linked to the controversial plant.

The Centre, Tamil Nadu government and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd, which operates the plant, had refuted all the allegations on safety and security aspects. They had submitted that the plant is completely safe and can withstand any kind of natural disaster and terrorist attack.

The bench, on the first date of hearing on 13 September last, had refused to stay the loading of fuel for the plant but had agreed to examine the risk associated with the project, saying the safety of people in its vicinity is its key concern, Times of India reports.