'PM considering TN plea on entire allocation of Kudankulam plant'

The Centre is considering Tamil Nadu's demand for 100% allocation of electricity generated by the two 1,000 MW units at Kudankulam nuclear power project.

Minister of State in PMO V Narayansamy told the Lok Sabha that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard.

"It is under the consideration of the Prime Minister," Narayanasamy said during Question Hour.

T Baalu (DMK) said Tamil Nadu was reeling under severe power cuts and sought to know from the Centre whether it would allocate 100% power generated from Kudankulkam to the electricity-starved state.

"The member is right in saying that Tamil Nadu is starved of electricity. It is a fact. The Member also raised the question whether its production will be utilised for Tamil Nadu. In this connection, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu also wrote a letter to the Prime Minister," Narayanasamy said.

Jayalalithaa has written to the Prime Minister twice demanding that the entire power generated by Kundankulam nuclear power project be allocated to Tamil Nadu.

Currently, Tamil Nadu is expected to get 925 MW powers from the two 1000 MW units. The first unit of the project, stalled for eight-months by protests over the safety issues, is expected to be commissioned some time next month. The second unit is expected to start generating power a couple of months after the first unit.