The government's decision to use abandoned gold mines of Kolar for dump nuclear waste from Tamil Nadu's Kudankulam nuclear power plant has met severe opposition by Kolar Gold Fields residents, anti-nuclear groups as well as several political outfits.

The atomic energy ministry and the Nuclear Power Corp (NPC) have plans to develop a deep-level waste depository at the Kolar Gold Fields and later convert it into a permanent storage space for radioactive waste produced by the Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

Stunned by the decision to turn Kolar gold mines into a dump yard for nuclear waste, KGF residents are now questioning the safety aspects of such a move and the government's promise about the revival of the closed Bharat Gold Mines Ltd.

Criticizing the move, BGML union leader Diwakar said, "The Centre, on the one hand, assured us the gold mines will be reopened. On the other hand, it's attempting to use the mines as a dump yard for nuclear waste. This is nothing less than cheating."

On Thursday, Kolar Gold Fields City Corporation council President Dayanand and Janata Dal (S) leader Bhaktavatsalam called for a protest against the controversial move.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Bharatiya Janata Party have also criticized the move, saying that hazardous radiation was the main cause for their worry.

The opponents argue that the tunnels in the mines have become very weak due to extensive mining and that the radiations from the nuclear waste would have adverse affects on the health of the people in the area.