Thousands protest fuel loading in Kudankulam plant

Thousands of anti-nuclear activists today made efforts to siege the contentious Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu to block fuel loading, causing tension between protesters and policemen. Police prevented the locals, led by S P Udayakumar, nearly half a kilometre away from the plant. Earlier, the Madras High Court dismissed the petition, challenging the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board's clearance to the plant to load fuel. However, in the wake of the Fukushima incident in Japan, several nuclear projects across India have run into rough weather as protesting locals and activists argue that such plants could adversely affect the environment.