Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday reiterated her appeal for allocating the entire power to be generated from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) to the State.
In her letter addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Chief Minister said: “I understand that nuclear fuel loading is going to take place in the next few days in the first unit of the plant of 1,000 MW [megawatt] capacity. It is expected that criticality will be reached in the following 20 days or so, leading to power generation from the first unit of the Plant.” She added that “I am sure that you will do the needful by accepting the absolutely justified demand of our State.”
In her previous letter of March 31, which she recalled in her latest communication, the Chief Minister drew Dr. Singh's attention to the allocation of 925 MW to the State from the KKNNP, which would have two units of 1,000 MW each.
Ms. Jayalalithaa had also referred to the severe power shortage being faced by the State and stated that it would be proper and justifiable that the entire power of the KKNNP was made available to the State. This was also inevitable as the transmission corridor congestion problem continued and had also been brought to his notice, she added.
Keywords: power allocation, Tamil Nadu power crisis, Jayalalithaa, Centre-State relations, Kudankulam power project
Chief minister Jayalalithaa is absolutely right in claiming the entire 2000 MW power that is expected to be generated when both the reactors in Koodankulam become oprational. ("Jayalalithaa reiterates appeal for entire allocation of power"-April26)
If at all she had allowed the K- plant to be commissioned much against the wishes of the people living in and around Koodankulam and PMANE, it was only in the interest of the state which is presently reeling under terrible shortage of power.It is unfortunate that Prime Minister Manamohan Singh has not responded to the Chief Minister's request so far and almost all the Congress Ministers, particularly Narayanasami,MOS in the PM's office who had been clamouring for the commissioning of the plant and at one stage even started accusing the Chief Minister of supporting the anti Koodankulam crusade have gone silent in this respect.It would only be ideal and practical if the Chief Minister ekes out a written acceptance from the Prime Minister conceding her request before the nuclear fuel loading takes place.If the PM continues to keep his stony silence,our Chief Minister who is known for taking bold steps should not hesitate to stall the nuclear fuel loading until the Central Government respects the sentiments of the people of the state and concedes CM's request.
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