The Tamil Nadu cabinet on Monday gave the nod for the 2,000-Mw Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant by giving site clearence, which will allow in continuation of construction at the site.
The Cabinet headed by chief minister J Jayalalithaa also announced a Rs 500-crore development package to be used around the project site. “In accordance with the cabinet decision, immediate steps will be taken to facilitate commissioning of the plant,” chief minister said in a statement.
The decision comes a day after polling at Sankarankoil, which falls in Tiruneveli district, where the project is located.
The decision was taken based on the recommendations of the four-member committee set up by the chief minister to look into the fears and concerns of the protestors against the plant.
The People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) had started protesting since September 2011 to stop work at the project.
Convenor of the group S P Udayakumar begun a fast unto death on Monday after nine people were arrested at the site and after the decision.
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He told Business Standard that the demands include those who have been detained today should be released, Tamil Nadu Government should withdraw the decision, which was taken on Monday at the Cabinet Meeting, to commission the plant, Indian and international expert on Geology, Hydrology should be consulted, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) rules and International norms on safety should be followed, Russian and Indian Governments should explain their stands on liability and should released along with the copy of IGA signed in 2008.
The protestors have also rejected the Rs 500 crore package announced by the state government on Monday.
The committee reviewed the area and in the report it was said that the area did not had any history of major earthquake or tsumani, the committee also revied the security issues and submitted a positive detail summary report”.
She also sought the cooperation of political parties and all concerned to immediately resume work at the plant in Tirunelveli district,
The cabinet decided to allocate Rs 500 crore for locals to set up among others, a cold storage to store fish catch, construct houses, laying of roads and repairing mechanised fishing boats of local fishermen, she said.