The Madras high court on Thursday directed the police to permit the Peoples Movement for Nuclear Safety to hold a one day protest, demanding that safety measures be put in place for the people of Kalpakkam in view of the health hazards that could be posed by the Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant.

Justice Vinod K. Sharma directed the police to grant permission to the petitioner, K Duraisamy, an office-bearer of the forum and a ward member of Sathurangapattinam local panchayat, to stage a protest for one day at the place to be specified by the DSP, Mamallapuram sub-division, Kancheepuram district, so that there is no law and order problem.

The functioning of the power plant had led to people residing in and around Kalpakkam being inflicted with various diseases, including cancer, said the petitioner.

In the last 10 years alone, 244 cases of cancer were detected in Kalpakkam, according to a study. There was no specialty hospital for radiation related diseases in Kalpakkam.

The petitioner said that the People’s Movement for Nuclear Safety was formed to draw the attention of the authorities and he was one of its office-bearer.

On November 25, 2011, he urged the authorities to give permission for a one-day fast on behalf of the forum near Poigai Karai Roundtana, Sathurangapattinam in Kancheepuram district, on December 12 demanding safety measures for the people of Kalpakkam because of the health hazards that could be caused by the of Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant.

However, the authorities had rejected his plea, Duraisamy said.