AN excellent article on Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant was carried by a leading weekly recently. The write-up highlighted the risks of fatal radiation from the proposed plant and the continuous threat towards public health which could prove expensive for the country both in terms of time and money. For the manufacturers of the plant, i.e., the Russians, given the 'cost plus' formulae for payment, it could be a perpetual source of guaranteed profit.
Our authorities should not overlook the issue of radiation hazards from such nuclear power plants and only resign themselves to the idea of getting nuclear power from the plant.
By any yardstick, conventionally fuelled power plant or even the more expensive plant for alternative sources of solar power or bio-gas based power unit that can use both animal and human solid wastes as fuel, is a better choice. We can have paddle-wheel driven generator sets to provide power from water flowing down stream. These can be introduced by the government at far lesser cost per KWh generated and local investors can be encouraged to set up such plants with some marginal inducement over a few years.
Engr.S.A.Mansoor
