Pakistan court stops construction work on nuclear power plants

[bananas]

Source: Economic Times of India

A Pakistani court has restrained the government from initiating work on two proposed nuclear power plants to be built with Chinese help unless environmental safeguards are adhered to, media reports said.

The two-judge bench at the Sindh High Court restrained the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) yesterday to carry out work at the proposed sites in the southern port city of Karachi without adhering to environmental laws.

The court directive was issued on a petition challenging the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report of the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency which approved the two plants.

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Read more: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/44854235.cms

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[bananas]

1. Court in Pakistan stays work on nuclear plant, says environmental rules not followed

http://www.dianuke.org/court-in-pakistan-stays-work-on-nuclear-plant-says-environmental-rules-not-followed/

Court in Pakistan stays work on nuclear plant, says environmental rules not followed
Oct 17 2014

For the past year, a small group of us have been working to stop construction of two Chinese-supplied nuclear power reactors being built in the city of Karachi.

We have just had our first victory.

As far as I know, it is the first time a Pakistani court has stopped a Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission project.

Zia Mian,
Physicist, Princeton University (on email)

[bananas]

2. Bypassing regulations? Court stays work on nuclear power plant, says environment rules not followed

http://tribune.com.pk/story/776686/bypassing-regulations-court-stays-work-on-nuclear-power-plant-says-environment-rules-not-followed/

Bypassing regulations? Court stays work on nuclear power plant, says environment rules not followed
By Our Correspondent
Published: October 17, 2014

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) stayed on Thursday the commencement of work on two nuclear power plants, K-II and K-III, as they have yet to obtain approval from the Environment Protection Agency (EPA).

The division bench, headed by the Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar, granted the temporary stay order on a petition filed by a group of four citizens – filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, physicist Dr Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy, physicist Dr Abdul Hameed Nayyar and architect Arif Belgaumi. The petitioners cited the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority, the federal and the provincial environmental protection agencies as respondents for failing to obtain the necessary environmental checks.

On Thursday, the bench issued notices to the respondents to file their comments by the next date of hearing. The deputy attorney general and the provincial advocate general were also told to file the comments of the authorities.

<snip>

[bananas]

3. It's the first time a Pakistani court has stopped a Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission project.

http://coalitionagainstnukes.org/court-in-pakistan-stays-work-on-nuclear-plant-says-environmental-rules-not-followed/

Court in Pakistan stays work on nuclear plant, says environmental rules not followed
October 17, 2014 by C.A.N.
By Nuclear Resource

It is the first time a Pakistani court has stopped a Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission project.

Read more here:: http://www.dianuke.org/court-in-pakistan-stays-work-on-nuclear-plant-says-environmental-rules-not-followed/

[cosmicone]

4. Pakistan and nuclear power plant

conjures up images of the mother of all Chernobyls.

But, knowing that the Pakistani military wants them, one or both those judges are going to have serious health issues and the rest of the judges will allow construction to go ahead.

[bananas]

5. Almost happened with Iran's nuclear plant

Last edited Fri Oct 17, 2014, 10:25 AM - Edit history (1)

Jan 16, 2011: Russia warns of ‘Iranian Chernobyl'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4699020

Feb 26, 2011: Iran to 'remove fuel' from Bushehr atomic plant
"Based on the recommendation of Russia"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4749479

Jun 25, 2011: Five nuclear experts working on Iran's Bushehr plant died in Russian plane crash
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x301385

There was a lot speculation that the plane crash was retribution for whistleblowing.

edit to add:

Jan 2, 2013: The Next Chernobyl?
"haphazard planning and ongoing technical problems mean it could be the next Chernobyl"
"Technical problems in the past 12 months have raised serious concerns about Iran’s capacity to competently operate the facility. The plant was shut down in October to limit potential damage following the discovery of stray bolts found beneath its fuel cells, the Reuters news agency reported, citing a Russian industry source ... unexpected fuel transfers ... hasn’t signed the 1994 Convention on Nuclear Safety ..."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101652748