In Tamil Nadu, Work has begun at a frenetic pace at the Kudankulam nuclear power project site with 80 Russian scientists and 950 employees of Nuclear Power Corporation of India resuming work to ensure early commissioning of the 1000 MW power plant.
The Site Director Mr Kasinath Balaji told our Chennai correspondent that additional work force from other nuclear power projects are being moved to the Kundankulam site so that preparatory works for the commissioning of plant could be completed as early as possible. He said the contractual workers, who had left following the
protests are also being mobilized and said they would be reaching the site in the next couple of days.
Refusing to give a time frame for the commissioning of the plant, Mr Kasinath Balaji said all steps are being taken to complete the works so that the reactor is ready for the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board to consider and decide on loading of the fuel.
Thanking the Tamil Nadu chief Minister Ms.Jayalalitha for giving the go ahead for the project, Mr Balaji said full proof security arrangements have been made by the district administration and the police to ensure movement of employees and workers into the project
area.
Meanwhile, Police have clamped Section 144 in Radhapuram Taluk area prohibiting people from congregating. Police sources said 189 persons have been arrested since last night on various charges including preventing workers from entering the project areas.
Over 2000 policemen have been deployed in and around Kudankulam to
maintain law and order. In a related development, The People’s movement against nuclear energy which is spearheading the agitation against the power plant, in a statement issued today demanded the immediate release of arrested people and wanted withdrawal of Tamil Nadu's cabinet resolution giving the green signal to power project
Our correspondent reports that protests against the nuclear power plant began in August last year bringing to a halt the project work delaying the commissioning the commissioning of the first unit by
several months.
