Jaya may give nod; Koodankulam plant set to bloom

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Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa has called a cabinet meeting on Monday reportedly to discuss the report submitted by the expert panel that went into safety aspects of Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project.

There is wide expectation CM may give a go-ahead to the plant.

The expert committee has given a clean chit to the project, besides the state badly needs K-power to overcome its unprecedented electricity shortage.

Ministers, most of whom are in Sankarankoil campaigning for the March 18 Assembly bypoll, are rushing to Chennai. Sources said CM might also discuss budget proposals.

The cabinet had adopted a resolution in September last year asking the Centre to stop work at KKNPP until fears of locals are allayed. Following this, the Centre constituted a 14-member expert panel, which visited Koodankulam and submitted a report concluding that the plant would be world-class and absolutely safe.

However, anti-nuke protesters remained adamant that the project be scrapped. They even blocked its maintenance.

To end the impasse, CM appointed a four-member expert committee to look at plant safety afresh. This committee gave its report on February 28 reportedly favouring KKNPP.

The Monday cabinet meet may seek to annul the September resolution, paving the way for resumption of work at the plant.

Anti-nuke campaigners continued protests. About 300 of them marched to the local Pillaiyar temple Sunday carrying pots of milk to seek divine intervention to stop the project.

A large posse of police has been deployed in and around Koodankulam.

Meanwhile, Union minister V. Narayanasamy said in Puducherry TN would get 1,000 MW from the plant once production begins. Another Union minister G.K. Vasan echoed his views in Thanjavur and insisted most TN people wanted the plant.

“The Centre and state must put a full stop to the evil designs of some people to plunge TN into darkness,” he said.