Chennai: As protests over the construction of Koodankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu escalate, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has sent an emissary to the state to mediate. Union minister V Narayanaswamy will hold talks with Koodankulam villagers today. Around 100 of them have been fasting for nine days against the power plant.
"We are hopeful that we will be able to convince people and allay any fears about the safety of the nuclear plant," Narayanaswamy said as he arrived. He will also hold discussions with Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary during the day. Meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has been rescheduled for tomorrow.
The Chief Minister had sent a letter to the Prime Minister on Monday morning, asking for work at the nuclear plant to be halted. Later in the day, she received a phone call from Dr Manmohan Sigh and an assurance that a senior minister will be deputed to address the concerns of villagers who live near the new Koodankulam nuclear power.
In her note, Jayalalithaa had accused the centre of "abdicating" its responsibility.
The nuclear plant, being set up 614 kilometres from Chennai in the Tirunelveli district in the southern part of the state, has caused concerns about safety, even though it has been cleared by the Department of Atomic Energy.
The Chief Minister had asked that the Central government send "competent authorities" to talk to residents of the area. "It is surprising that the Centre has sent no minister to assuage misgivings," Jayalalithaa stated, adding that "The issue is creating fear psychosis in villages after Fukushima disaster."
Jayalalithaa, in the past few days, has tried to reassure villagers that the plant, an Indo-Russian joint venture, is designed to withstand a tsunami and is located in a region that is not prone to earthquakes.
The nuclear plant, expected to help Tamil Nadu's serious power problems, was sanctioned by the central government in 1988. It is expected to cost $3.5 billion and is being built by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL).
"We are hopeful that we will be able to convince people and allay any fears about the safety of the nuclear plant," Narayanaswamy said as he arrived. He will also hold discussions with Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary during the day. Meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has been rescheduled for tomorrow.
The Chief Minister had sent a letter to the Prime Minister on Monday morning, asking for work at the nuclear plant to be halted. Later in the day, she received a phone call from Dr Manmohan Sigh and an assurance that a senior minister will be deputed to address the concerns of villagers who live near the new Koodankulam nuclear power.
In her note, Jayalalithaa had accused the centre of "abdicating" its responsibility.
The nuclear plant, being set up 614 kilometres from Chennai in the Tirunelveli district in the southern part of the state, has caused concerns about safety, even though it has been cleared by the Department of Atomic Energy.
The Chief Minister had asked that the Central government send "competent authorities" to talk to residents of the area. "It is surprising that the Centre has sent no minister to assuage misgivings," Jayalalithaa stated, adding that "The issue is creating fear psychosis in villages after Fukushima disaster."
Jayalalithaa, in the past few days, has tried to reassure villagers that the plant, an Indo-Russian joint venture, is designed to withstand a tsunami and is located in a region that is not prone to earthquakes.
The nuclear plant, expected to help Tamil Nadu's serious power problems, was sanctioned by the central government in 1988. It is expected to cost $3.5 billion and is being built by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL).
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