The Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office V.Narayanasamy today met the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Mr.Debendranath Sarangi and held discussions on the issue of public protests against the Koodamkulam nuclear power plant. He was sent by Prime minster Dr. Manohan Singh to address the issue after State Chief minister J. Jayalalitha wrote a letter expressing concern on the public protests.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mr.Narayanasamy told that he would visit Koodankulam and speak to the protestors and instill confidence in their minds on the safety aspects of the reactor. After his visit, he will be meeting Chief Minister Ms.J. Jayalalalithaa tomorrow and brief her on the developments after which he would also meet the Prime Minister and appraise him of the situation.

Meanwhile, the Consul General of the Russian Federation in South India, Mr.Nikolay Listopadov said that there is no need to panic or become nuclear phobic on the Koodankulam nuclear plant. Speaking to our correspondent in Chennai, Mr.Nickolay said that the reactors have been proved safe as the same type of reactors have been set up at Russia, China and Bulgaria have not reported any problems till now. Acknowledging the concerns of the people after certain of the incidents in nuclear reactors elsewhere, he said that Koodankulam is one of the most modern and safest type of reactor. Sounding a positive note, Mr. Nickolay said that the reactors would begin producing 1000 MWatt by the end of this year. In Koodankulam, protestors are continuing their fast and have set up a 16 member committee to talk with the Government.