TN panel says Kudankulam plant safe

The 1000 MW Kudankulam nuclear power plant is healthy and safe, according to MR Srinivasan, chairman of the experts committee appointed by the Tamil Nadu government to study about the safety features of the reactor built with Russian assistance.

“I have been associated with the Kudankulam nuclear reactor for more than quarter of a century. After inspecting the reactor, I understand it is a third Generation Plus reactor (one with most advanced safety features),” Dr Srinivasan told DNA.

Dr Srinivasan, former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, said he was totally satisfied with the reactor. “It has the most advanced and state-of-the-art safety system. All apprehensions about this reactor are out of place,” he said.

The expert committee headed by Dr Srinivasan submitted its findings on Kudankulam reactor to Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday. Though the team refused to tell anything to the media after their 30 minute meeting with the chief minister, it is widely believed that the report has given a clean chit to the reactor.

The expert committee under Prof AE Muthunayagam, appointed by the Centre to study the safety features of the reactor, too, had found it safe. Since the leaders of the PMANE  were not satisfied with the findings of the Muthunayagam committee, the Tamil Nadu government constituted a panel headed by Dr Srinivasan to study the features of the reactor.

Though almost 99 per cent of the work on the first unit of the reactor has been completed, the commissioning has been delayed because of the agitation by PMANE in association with the local community.