The four-member expert committee constituted by the Tamil Nadu Government to study safety issues and public opinion relating to the Kudankulam nuclear power plant has submitted its report today, according to an official press release.
The committee consisting of Professor M.R. Srinivasan, former chairman, Atomic Energy Commission; Prof. D. Arivuoli, Department of Physics, Anna University; Dr S. Iniyan, Professor and Director, Institute for Energy Studies, Anna University, who is also the convenor of the committee; and Mr L.N. Vijayaraghavan, a former IAS officer of the rank of Chief Secretary, was formed to submit a report on the nuclear power project coming up in Tirunelveli district.
CM's announcement
The committee was constituted in line with the announcement by the Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, in the Assembly on February 4. Work on the 2,000-MW atomic power plant, which started in 2001, has been stalled because of public protests since last September. The State Government has said the concerns of the people should first be addressed before the project is implemented.
Cases against 4 NGOs
A PTI reports adds: Tightening the noose on those opposing the Kudankulam nuclear project, the Government has registered cases against four NGOs for allegedly diverting funds to fuel protests and deported a German national for assisting the agitators.
“Cases have been registered against four NGOs for violation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act,” the Union Home Secretary, Mr R. K. Singh, told reporters here.
The action came days after the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had said that non-governmental organisations have received support from abroad for leading protests against the much- awaited nuclear power plant.