Citing “acute” power shortage in Tamil Nadu, Congress MPs from the state on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take steps to operationalise the agitation-hit Kudankulam Nuclear Power plant at the earliest so as to meet increasing demands.
A delegation of seven MPs also apprised him of the events in Tamil Nadu over the Mullaperiyar Dam issue and said the Centre should intervene and resolve the matter between the state and Kerala amicably.
On the Kudankulam issue, the MPs told Singh that several places in Tamil Nadu were facing power cuts as long as five hours a day and the nuclear plants over which there have been lots of protests should be operationalised at the earliest.
“We told them that power shortage can be met with if the new plant is operationalised at the earliest. The Prime Minister told us that the plant once launched will provide maximum share to the state,” Virudhunagar MP Manick Tagore said.
During the meeting inside Parliament House, the MPs told the Prime Minister that “people want the plant to be operationalised.”
“He shared our views and said short-term problems of the state with regard to electricity can be met with after the Kudankulam plant gets operationalised,” Mr. Tagore said.
Locals have been protesting against the Kudankulam Power Plant and even the Tamil Nadu Government had demanded suspension of work at the project till people’s fears are allayed.
On the dam issue, Mr. Tagore said Dr. Singh shared his views and asked both states to remain calm and patient till the issue is resolved.
“The Prime Minister told us that he was worried after several incidents on the border between the two states. He said everyone has to remain calm. He said we have to wait for the court verdict too,” the MP said.
