Works at the Indo-Russian joint venture came to a standstill following the stir by anti-nuclear activists for over seven months and had resumed after the Jayalalithaa government gave go ahead to the project on March 19.
According to Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, 99.2 per cent work has been completed at Unit-I, 94.6 per cent work is over in Unit-II, both capable of producing 1,000 MW each.
Banerjee along with NPCIL Chairman and Managing Director S K Jain and senior officials today reviewed the progress of works at the site and interacted with local authorities.
Speaking to reporters, Banerjee said Unit-I was kept at high pressure and temperature for long.
"First we have to depressurise, lower the temperature of the Unit-I reactor. For this, we have to open the pressure vessel and make an inspection."
Based on this, a report would be submitted and after clearance from AERB, removal of dummy fuel and refilling the actual uranium fuel loading would be taken up and Unit-I would go in for criticality, he said.
"All these steps will be done in the shortest possible time and then (the unit will) go in for criticality." (More) PTI Corr BN MS BN