Budget 2013: Rs 150 crore for development projects in Kudankulam

NEW DELHI: The protest-hit Kudankulam town, where two 1,000 MW nuclear reactors are at an advanced stage of commissioning, was on Thursday allocated Rs 150 crore for carrying out various development works.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram made the allocation for 'Neighbourhood Development Project (in Kudankulam)' in the Union Budget.

The amount has been set aside 'to provide relief and rehabilitation to project affected people of Kudankulam area in Tamil Nadu', the budget documents stated.

The allocation has been made under the category of 'Nuclear Power Schemes'.

Anti-nuclear protests had broken out in Kudankulam and some of its surrounding areas in September 2011 and the eight-month stir was called off after the Tamil Nadu government announced a Rs 500 crore development plan for the region.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited is building two 1,000 MW reactors with Russian collaboration at Kudankulam in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.