Kudankulam to be functional in 2 months: Centre

Madurai: The Centre on Saturday said it is confident of commissioning the first unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project to generate 1,000 MW of power in two months as 99 per cent of its works are over.

Talking to reporters in Madurai, Union Minister of State in the PMO V Narayanaswamy said, "We only need to load uranium in the first unit for its functioning".

Regarding the second unit, he said only five per cent works remain to be completed and almost all construction activities were over.

He said the Centre was looking into Tamil Nadu's demand for allocation of entire power to be generated from the KNPP to the state.

"It is under the serious consideration of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh," he said, and hoped that a good decision will be taken on the matter.

He said "as of now" Tamil Nadu government would get 965 MW of power from the two units.

Narayanaswamy said India voted in favour of a resolution in UNHRC against Sri Lanka last month for alleged war crimes as "we were unhappy" with the neighbouring country for not implementing the rehabilitation programmes for the war-hit Tamils.

On the issue of alleged attacks on Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, he said talks were going on between fishermen associations of the two countries.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna are closely monitoring the rehabilitation programmes for Tamils in Sri Lanka, the minister said.

India had allocated money for railway projects, power project and housing schemes in Sri Lanka for the benefit of Tamils, he said.

Meanwhile, Narayanasamy on Saturday offered prayers at the famous Meenakshi temple.

"I sought the blessings of Sri Sundareswarar and Goddess Meenakshi for removing hurdles in the safe commissioning of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project," he told reporters after visiting the temple.

The minister said when he came to the city last time, he had prayed at the temple seeking the blessings of the deity for the smooth commissioning of KNPP.

"Now with the cooperation of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (Jayalalithaa), the hurdles had been removed," he said.

He also thanked DMK chief M Karunanidhi, various trade bodies and organisations for supporting the KNPP project.