According to a report, the Nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz has docked near Chennai port on Monday morning at 6 AM but the official confirmation is yet to come. The USS Pickney that was thought to be with Nimitz has not yet arrived in Chennai.
The report says that the arrival of Nimitz, which is powered by two nuclear plants and has 65 fighter jets on board, has come under attack from different environmental groups. Several political parties such as Left parties, AIADMK and MDMK have expressed fears of nuclear radiation in the region.
On the other hand, the officials on board Nimitz have reportedly said that there is no need to be feared over possible radiation because the 56 year-old ship has outstanding safety record. The political parties have planned to protest outside the Chennai Port on Monday evening.
The anchoring of the US warship has provoked protest from different environmental groups also. They have said that this is distressing that the Indian government has granted permission foe the anchoring of Nimitz at Chennai port.
Now, the government has claimed that Nimitz was not known to be carrying nuclear weapons on board. India has maintained an entrenched policy of prohibiting foreign nuclear weapons into its territorial waters. The US has neither denied nor confirmed the presence of nuclear weapons on its warships under any circumstances.
