Scientists on tenterhooks for Koodankulam nod

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Strange it might sound but the scientific community in Tamil Nadu has been on tenterhooks over an Assembly bye-election. Along with the political class, the nuclear scientists in the state are keeping their fingers crossed over Sankarankoil, where the by-poll went off peacefully on Sunday.

Now they are hoping they would get the much-awaited green signal from chief minister Ms J Jayalalithaa for the Koodankulam nuclear power plant. It promises almost two-thirds of its 1000 MW production in the first unit to the power-starved state and almost the entire 1000 MW from the second unit.

"We are hoping the state government would give its nod for the plant after the bye-election process ends with the counting of votes on March 21", said an official of the nuclear power corporation requesting anonymity.

Expectations ran high, when the expert panel appointed by the state government submitted its report to the chief minister on February 29, vouching for the safety of the plant. There was more hope when a couple of days later, additional DGP S George went to project site and reviewed security at the plant, besides inspecting Idinthakarai, the headquarters of the anti-nuke agitators.

"We believed that the review of security arrangements was a precursor to government action that might follow to resolve the seven-month standoff at Koodankulam. We are waiting with hope", said another nuclear power official.

The scientists were made to understand that the government did not want to precipitate matters at a time when a bye-poll of high stakes was happening. The People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) too had announced stepped-up stir, including rallies in Chennai and a 'Koodankulam Chalo' involving anti-nuke activists from other parts of India. But now that the Sankarankoil pressure has eased, the state government is likely to facilitate the resumption of work at the K-plant, the scientists are hoping.

Giving credence to the hope, Union minister V Narayanasamy said on Saturday that "if everything goes well", the 1000 MW first unit would be commissioned in 15 days and the second unit, two months later. He also said PMANE had lost public support. "The Koodankulam plant will greatly help Tamil Nadu to tackle the acute power crisis", he said.

The first unit of the plant was ready for commissioning in December last. The Centre could not go ahead after the PMANE stepped up agitation, expressing apprehensions on the safety aspect. A massive investment of about Rs13,000 crores has already gone into the building of the plant with two units of 1000 MW each.

The inordinate delay in commissioning of the plant has resulted in huge loss to the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL). "We are already facing a loss of Rs five crores a day, owing to the delays", said Mr S A Bharadwaj, director (technical), NPCIL.