CHENNAI: All eyes are on the first meeting of the four-member experts’ committee constituted by the State government to study safety aspects of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant, which is slated to take place on Friday. Just a couple of days ago, Professor S Iniyan, convenor of the committee, called on Chief Secretary Debendranath Sarangi and discussed modalities.Former AEC chief and a member of the committee, M R Srinivasan, confirmed that the meeting would take place on February 17. Prof D Arivoli of Anna University and former IAS officer L N Vijayaraghavan are also on the panel.The committee is expected to study reports submitted by the 15-member Central government panel and the questions raised by agitators. They are also likely to visit the plant soon to meet representatives of the agitators.The four-member panel is expected to wrap up its work quickly as the Chief Minister had assured the State Assembly that it would submit its report at the earliest. PMANE coordinator S P Udayakumar, while welcoming the formation of the committee, had demanded the removal of Srinivasan since he was a known supporter of nuclear energy.In New Delhi, V Narayanasamy, MoS, PMO said: “We will take steps to launch the plant after the report is submitted.”A couple of days ago, Russian Ambassador to India, Alexander M Kadakin had said it was difficult to allow Russian nuclear experts assigned for completing the KKNPP to idle away their time in view of the long-standing protests. However, Narayanasamy said, “We have spoken to the scientists and also to the Russian government. The scientists would remain there in Koodankulam.”
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