Kudankulam n-plant to be operational soon, PM tells Russia

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in Moscow today that India would ensure that the Russian-built Kudankulam power plant in Tamil Nadu becomes operational "in a couple of weeks", despite strong local protests holding up its progress.

Manmohan Singh made the announcement at a joint press conference with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev here soon after their 12th summit. The statement was surprising as protests are mounting at the site over safety and environmental concerns, and local authorities at the plant say critical operations are being held up by the agitation.

"I am confident that in a couple of weeks we should be able to go ahead in operationalising Kudankulam-I and, thereafter, in a period of six months, Kudankulam-II," he said in answer to a question. His reply was the more surprising because the plant is not expected to start commercial production till March next year.

At the same time, the two countries India and Russia did not sign any agreement for the third and fourth units of the plant. Such an agreement was widely anticipated by Russian officials and observers.

However, he added that India and Russia had concluded negotiations on the terms of reference for the Russion line of credit for the third and fourth units, and said they looked forward to moving ahead in their nuclear energy agreement signed in 2010.

Alluding to the villagers' protests against the nuclear plant, he said there were "temporary problems" in view of "some agitations" due to their concerns over the safety of the plant and its impact on their livelihood.