Chennai: A 10-member delegation of the group
spearheading the protest against the Koodankulam nuclear power
plant in Tamil would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in
Delhi on Friday to discuss their concerns about the project.
Protests by locals have erupted over the commissioning of
the 1000 MW project, being built with Russian collaboration,
over safety concerns.
The announcement comes in the backdrop of protesters
threatening to revive their stir and making it state-wide from
October 9 if work on commissioning of the plant was not
suspended.
The PM also recently said that the Centre would sit with
the leadership of the state to find a "practical solution" to
the controversy over the project, but maintained that atomic
energy is the energy for the future and its importance
cannot be undermined.
"The Tirunelveli Collector informed us this morning about
the meeting with the Prime Minister to be held in New Delhi on
October 7," Convener of People`s Movement against Atomic Power
S P Udayakumar said.
Before the meeting, the group would meet the Tamil Nadu
Chief Secretary tomorrow, he added.
"Ten members of our movement will proceed to Delhi, while
an equal number from the state government is expected to join
(us)," said Kumar, the leader of the agitation that saw
thousands of locals rallying behind 127 persons of
Idinthakarai village in their 12-day fast last month against
the project.
Official sources in Tirunelveli said the Collector had
conveyed information about the meeting with the PM.
On September 22, the state cabinet adopted a resolution
requesting the Centre to halt the work on the Indo-Russian
project till apprehensions of the people were allayed.
The fast by 127 persons at Idinthakarai was withdrawn
after Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa promised to adopt a
resolution in the cabinet and arrange a meeting with the PM.
She wrote to the PM, urging him to halt the project till
safety concerns were addressed. Singh also deputed Union
Minister of State V Narayanasamy to hold dialogue with the
protesters.
PTI
