Kerala seeks greater share in Koodankulam power

NEW DELHI: Is the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant going to be the next Mullaiperiyar for Tamil Nadu and Kerala? The two states have already started letter wars over the soon-to-be-commissioned Koodankulam power plant as has been in the of the Mullaiperiyar Dam.
As a counter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithas’s letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, where she staked claim to the entire power from Koodankulam for TN, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has now written to PM demanding 500 MW from the plant for Kerala.
Chandy’s letter, dated May 3, cites the “a special power situation’’ in the State, and asks for special consideration in power allocation from Koodankulam. According to the letter, power produced from the hydel projects in Kerala is not enough to meet the power requirements of the State.
The Koodankulam nuclear plant is expected to generate 2,000 MW of power. The first unit is expected to be commissioned next month and the second unit is expected to start generating power a couple of months after the first unit.
As per the Gadgil formula, Tamil Nadu is expected to get 925 MW power from the two 1,000 MW units and Kerala is eligible for 266 MW power. But Oommen Chandy has asked for 500 MW, citing a power crisis the State is facing.

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