London-based groups protesting against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) have pledged to widen their campaign across Europe, as several British MPs voiced their concerns about the plant a

CHENNAI: The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) Friday announced that the first of the two 1,000 MW units of Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) is expected to start commercial operations this August and the second unit in March 2013.

The announcement on NPCIL's website as to the expected month of commercial operation of the first unit has now eased the mental pressure on people at KKNPP as the government has been saying that the first reactor would start operations in 20 days' time.

British MPs address letter to Manmohan, Jayalalithaa

Express deep concern over human rights and environmental issues around the plant

British MPs and members of the European Parliament have signed a letter from South Asian anti-nuclear groups to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressing “deep concern” over human rights and environmental issues around the controversial Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) which they argue “violates” the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s safety guidelines.

A.P. Shah surprised that State Human Rights Commission has not intervened

Organisation calls for promoting renewable energy as substitute for atomic power

The Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP) has urged the State government to turn down the State's share of power from the Kudankulam atomic power plant. A resolution adopted at the 49th State conference of KSSP called on the State government to demand Central assistance for solar and wind-based renewable energy projects as a substitute for atomic power. It appealed to the Centre to drop the ongoing effort to make the Kudankulam plant functional. “We, as a society, should be prepared to suffer the financial loss in abandoning the project, in view of the hazards posed by nuclear power.”

A public interest litigation petition has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the Centre to allot the entire 2000 MW to be generated by the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project to Tamil Nadu.

A Vacation Bench comprising Justices C.S. Karnan and K. Ravichandra Baabu before whom the petition came up, posted it for further hearing after the court's summer vacation.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that Kerala deserves an allocation of 500 MW of power from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP), the 1,000-MW first reactor of which is due for commissioning soon.

Mr. Chandy wrote the letter last week in the context of a demand Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had placed before the Centre for the entire quantity of power to be generated at KKNPP for her State.

Maverlikkara (Kerala) Lok Sabha Member Kodikkunnil Suresh has sought allocation of 226 MW of power, which is Kerala's share, from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP), whose first unit of 1000 MW will be commissioned in the next few days.

Raising the issue during the zero hour in the House on Friday, he said the State was facing power shortage and against the demand of 3,436 MW Kerala was getting only 3,216 MW leaving a gap of 220 MW. Due to this the State Government had to resort to power cuts.

The Centre is considering Tamil Nadu's demand for 100 per cent allocation of electricity generated by the two 1,000 MW units at Koodankulam nuclear power project.

Minister of State in PMO V Narayansamy told the Lok Sabha that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard.