A few kilometres inside the Kalpakkam nuclear facility in Tamil Nadu a unique experiment is under way. The results of the experiment will not only protect nuclear reactors during a tsunami but also produce fruit-bearing trees, such as sapota and gooseberry, said Dr M.H. Mehta, Chairman of the National Bioshield Society.

The Department of Atomic Energy after the 2004 Indonesian tsunami realised the importance of mangroves in protecting the nuclear plants and started developing a ‘bioshield'— multi-tiered coastal vegetation — to reduce the impact of tsunamis and coastal flooding. In 2007, the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), a unit of the Department of Atomic Energy at Kalpakkam, took the lead in developing the shield, consisting of mangroves as well as salt-tolerant plants and trees. It has planted them at three locations in the facility.

IGCAR took the help of the National Bioshield Society and M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation for developing the shield. The three organisations collectively managed to crack the code of growing trees, plants and shrubs in a saline environment.

Dr Mehta, a former Vice-Chancellor of the Gujarat Agriculture University, told Business Line that the saline soil at Kalpakkam was used for cultivation by adding organic compost and clay, which helped in sustaining plants and trees. Both the ingredients gave essential nutrients to trees and plants, he said.

Dr Mehta said the multi-layered vegetation will protect all coastal nuclear power plants in the future. Just like the mangroves, it will act as a buffer in protecting the facilities, he said.

About 13 varieties of common and fruit-bearing trees have been planted at the site. The fruit-bearing trees are Malay apple, ramphal , sapota , guava, sweet lime, gooseberry and pomegranate. Salicornia, a salt-tolerant local plant, has also been planted. Cashew can also be grown in that soil but it has not been planted for security reasons as it is a bushy tree.

Implications

An expert on condition of anonymity said the successful planting of trees and plants in saline soil at Kalpakkam has immense implications for Indian agriculture. Vast tracks of saline land along the country's seacoast could be brought under cultivation, which will only add to food security, the expert said.

“On the coast, Salicornia or sea asparagus should be also promoted, as it has good market overseas for gourmet cooking. From the plant, a low sodium salt can also be extracted, which will prove to be boon for chemical companies and for hypertension patients,” the expert said.

However, Mr Vivek Kulkarni, expert on mangroves and coastal vegetation, warned that growing fruit and other varieties of trees and plants in coastal areas will bring its own set of problems. “As soon as growing of plants takes a form of agriculture, it will add insecticides and other pollutants into the marine environment, which cannot be controlled,” he said.

IGCAR officials did not respond to repeated attempts for commets.

>rahulw@thehindu.co.in

comment COMMENT NOW