TN: Kudankulum nuclear plant likely to be commissioned today

Chennai: The controversial Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) is likely to be commissioned on Saturday. Locals have been protesting against the establishment of the plant.

Activist Aruna Roy had also written a letter to UPA chief Sonia Gandhi demanding a halt in the plant's installation.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa earlier requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to allot all the power (2,000 mw) to be generated at the plant to the state, to tide over the severe power shortage.

Kudankulum plant likely to be commissioned today

India\'s nuclear power plant operator Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd is building the plant in Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu.

Villagers in Kudankulam, Idinthakarai and nearby areas fear for their lives and safety in case of any nuclear accident. Their agitation, led by the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), had put a stop to the project work, delaying the commissioning of the first unit slated last December.

The Tamil Nadu government had urged the central government to halt work at the power plant and allay the fears of the people. To resolve the issue, the central and state governments had set up two panels.

India's nuclear power plant operator Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) is building the KNPP at Kudankulam in Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu around 650 km from Chennai.

Work at the project had come to a standstill last year after villagers in the area, fearing for lives in case of nuclear accident, mounted an intensive protest.

The Tamil Nadu government had earlier passed a resolution asking the central government to halt work at the plant and to allay the fears of the locals.

To resolve the issue, the central and state governments set up two panels.

The central panel submitted its final report January 31. The Tamil Nadu government set up another expert committee which too favoured the project.

With Additional Inputs from Agencies

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