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Centre’s expert panel clears Kudankulam N-power plant

Tirunelveli (TN), January 31
Blaming the anti-nuclear activists for the continuing impasse over the Kudankulam power plant, the Central expert committee set up to allay the fears of the people today said it had conclusively addressed all safety aspects and made it clear it was not in a position to hold further talks.

The 15-member expert group (EG) made the observations in a 70-page supplementary report on a day when the fourth round of talks between the group and the state government panel failed to take place after representatives of the agitators boycotted it protesting alleged attack on them by a Hindu outfit.

However, the report gave the thumbs up to the Indo-Russian project saying “(it) meets with all current safety requirements and is safe for operation.”

“Since the representatives of people in the joint forum are not prepared for any presentation from experts (of central expert group) and discussions, EG finds that it is not in a position to proceed further,” the group headed by A E Muthunayagam said.

This is the first time that the 15-member Central Expert Group has said it could not hold talks with the PMANE, which is spearheading the stir against the plant. — PTI