Tirunelveli: The AIADMK government's
"sudden volte-face" on the Koodankulam nuclear plant project,
which it had supported initially, was not understandable,
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President BS Gnanadesikan said
here on Saturday.
"The Tamil Nadu government had initially expressed its
support for the KNPP and demanded its early commissioning.
Now, the sudden volte-face of the state government towards
KNPP is not understandable," he said.
Gnanadesikan also said that he could not understand why
the state government had not arrested many protesters involved
in the anti-KNPP agitation despite registering cases against
them.
Describing the power project as an important national
project, he said it would cater to the needs of an
energy-starved India.
Moreover, as 50 per cent of the nuclear energy produced
from the two reactors at KNPP, about 925 mw, would be given to
Tamil Nadu, so the state government must support the project,
Gnanadesikan said.
Asked whether the Central government was turning a blind
eye to the demand of the Tamil Nadu government seeking a
financial package to the tune of Rs 24,000 crore, he said
that neither the Prime Minister not the Union Finance Minister
has the power to earmark the allocation of funds demanded, as
it is the prerogative of the devolution of Financial Packages
Act to the state governments.
On the allocation of Rs 23,000 crore to the
naxal-infested states such as Bihar and West Bengal, he said
these were given for rehabilitation and development measures.
But the TNCC would fully support the state government's effort
to get the financial assistance from the Centre, he added.
Congress will hold a public meeting here on February 4
urging the commissioning of the KNPP. Gnanadesikan said Union
Home Minister P Chidambaram, Union Shipping Minister GK Vasan
and Union Minister of State in the PMO, V Narayanaswamy will
be among those participating in the meeting.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, January 28, 2012, 20:05