Anti-nuclear plant protesters in Tamil Nadu turn down Jayalalithaa appeal

CHENNAI: Protestors from three southern districts in Tamil Nadu have refused to give up their demand to shut down what is poised to be the nation's newest nuclear power plant coming up in Kudankulam in Tirunelveli district.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram made a "kind appeal" to the protestors, including 127 people who are on a fast that entered the sixth day on Friday, to end their protest. She said the power plant had ensured all safety parameters, and that it was situated in the second zone of seismic activity where earthquakes were unlikely.

The protestors have turned down her plea. "The CM's request was disappointing for all of those who are here demanding closure of the plant", Amal Raj, a volunteer of the People's Movement against Nuclear Energy which is spearheading the agitation against the nuke project told ET.

Among those who have thrown their weight behind the agitation to have the plant shut, is the local Radhapuram MLA, Michael Rayappan of DMDK, which was an ally of the ruling AIADMK in the assembly poll.

The chief minister's plea on Friday came after she had sent a team of three ministers to negotiate with the protesting villagers. Tamil Nadu is expected to receive over 900 mw power from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project when the unit is commissioned. The 13,000-crore KKNPP, an Indo-Russian project, has two reactors of 1,000mw capacity each.

On Thursday, the state government sent ministers Shanmuganathan, ST Chellapandian and Chendur Pandian to negotiate with the protestors, in the presence of the district collector and senior police officers. A participant at the meeting told ET that the government team insisted that the fast be called off first, and a meeting be held with the chief minister.