Youth Congress to hold yatra for Kundankulam project

The Tamil Nadu Youth Congress has decided to hold a two-day ‘padayatra' from Tirunelveli to Kudankulam from February 10 to clear the 'misconceptions' from the minds of a section of the people who are protesting the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP).

While, the anti-nuclear plant protesters have made it clear that they would not end their protest till the project is completely closed, whereas pro-project group has demanded early commissioning of the project.

The Congress cabinet ministers from Tamil Nadu, in a recently held meeting, had categorically backed the early commissioning of the nuclear power project.

The two 1,000-MW reactors are being built in Kudankulam with the collaboration of Russia and around Rs.13,500 crore has been spent in the project.
The people of Idinthakarai village in Tirunveli district, where the project is being built, have been continuing their protest against the project for more than last 100 days.

An expert committee constituted by the Centre recently held four rounds of talks with the protesters. The committee had also submitted a report on the project to the government on January 31.

According to the reports, the committee has concluded that the nuclear power reactors have been built with full safety measures.

In the recently held public meeting at Palayamkottai, Union Minister V Narayanasamy had said, "Since I have completely integrated myself with the Kudankulam project the people of Tami Nadu call me Kudankulam Minister. We have the responsibility to allay the fears of people over this project.”

Anti-KKNPP protest committee convener S P Udayakumar has slammed the Centre saying that  Congress party has failed to understand the feeling of people.

He further added that the protesters are not questioning the agreement between Indian and Russia per se but have been asking the that who will be compensate in case of accident.