The Union Minister of Shipping, Mr G.K. Vasan, has come out in full support of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP), saying it is essential for the growth of the nation.

“Tamil Nadu is reeling under severe power shortage for many years and implementation of the project will bring maximum benefits to the State,” he said in Tuticorin district yesterday.

Mr Vasan, who was there to dedicate the 12.8 metre drought facility for berthing of panamax vessels at VOC Port, also said the claim by anti-KNPP protestors that talks with the experts committee formed by the Centre had failed, “was not correct.”

“The panel is made up of an elite group of experts and holding talks with them in a hurried manner and declaring negotiations to have broken down is not correct,” he said.

Anti-KNPP protestors have been on a month-long fast in Tirunelveli district in the second phase of their agitation, demanding scrapping of the Indo-Russian venture.

Mr Vasan also dismissed the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms Jayalalithaa's claim of “step-motherly treatment” by the Centre to states not ruled by the Congress or its allies.

The UPA Government has allotted funds and schemes for the development of all the states, he said.

Mr Vasan said the Centre had allotted Rs 23,636 crore to Tamil Nadu for the current fiscal. “It is 17 per cent more and Rs 3,467 crore higher than the last financial year,” he said.

The Minister also said the recent increase in prices of milk and bus fare in the State was “not acceptable,” as it would take a toll on the living standards of the common man.

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