N-plant crisis: Villagers reject Kalam's proposals

In a major setback to the central government, which is trying to resolve the Kudankulam nuclear plant crisis, villagers protesting against the plant have dismissed former president APJ Abdul Kalam's endorsement of the project.

In a major setback to the central government, which is trying to resolve the Kudankulam nuclear plant crisis, villagers protesting against the plant have dismissed former president APJ Abdul Kalam's endorsement of the project.

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They have also refused to accept Kalam's proposals on the development of Kudankulam and neighbouring areas.

The former president had visited the project site in Tirunelveli district on Sunday.

Kalam had also come up with a 10-point development plan, which includes building of four-lane highways, houses, schools, hospitals as well as cold storages, in Kudankulam and surrounding areas.

"If anyone thinks that he or she can bribe the villagers like this, they are sadly mistaken," said anti-nuclear activist SP Udayakumar on Monday.

Villagers who had been on a relay hunger strike for weeks at Idinthakkari village, continued their protest on Monday.

They said Kalam was speaking for the government. "Is Kalam a president, PM or a minister to come out with a plan? Whose sanction has he got to make such recommendations?" questioned a protester.

"The plan does sound great. But why a 500 bed hospital? Do they think that so many people will fall ill," asked a villager.