Residents welcome plan to set-up power generation unit

The State Government's plan to set-up a power generation unit using the waste generated in the corporation has brought jubilation among the residents of Ramaiyanpatti, who have staged several rounds of protests against the dumping of garbage in the vast yard close to this hamlet.

Continuing his fast against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant, convener of People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) S P Udayakumar today said the protesters were "ready" for talks.

"We are ready for talks. If we are considered people of this country and if our ahimsa protest is respected, government should talk to us. They should treat us like Indian people," Udayakumar,

TIRUNELVELI, TN: Leaders of various parties and outfits, including MDMK leader Vaiko, were on Friday arrested here when they attempted to proceed to Idinthakarai, the epicentre of protests against

Activist groups fear rights violation in Kudankulam area, where police have been heavily deployed to curb protests against State government's green signal to the project.

Seeking release of all those arrested by the police in and around Kudankulam area, Pon Chandran of Peoples Movement against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) said in a release that struggle committee members were being arrested and were being charged with offences such as sedition.

Reports by the experts’ panel, came in handy for the Tamil Nadu government to give its approval for the Kudankulam nuclear power project downstate, it is learnt. The expert groups of both the central and state governments observed the proposed 2,000-Mw endeavour met current safety standards.

Besides, officials say, rising power deficit also forced the J Jayalalithaa government to rethink its policy on Kudankulam. Tamil Nadu is reeling under power shortfall, recently prompting its government to seek the Centre’s intervention to overcome the crisis.

KOODANKULAM: Police and paramilitary personnel maintained strict vigil as tension prevailed at Idinthakarai, the epicentre of the stir against Koodankulam nuclear power plant, with anti-nuclear agitators continuing their indefinite fast today protesting the state Cabinet's decision to go ahead with the project.

Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in strength in areas around here as security has been stepped up after Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced the Cabinet's decision to go ahead with the project on Monday.

The work at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant returned to normal on Tuesday, a day after Tamil Nadu government gave the goahead to the stalled Indo-Russian project.

It will benefit trade and industry that are reeling under power crisis

Industries in Coimbatore region, which are hit by power shortage and had demanded commissioning of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project at the earliest, welcomed the announcement by the State Government on Monday that efforts will be taken for commissioning of the power project.

Civil society members, including former judges, writers, scientists, academicians, filmmakers and lawyers, have condemned the Tamil Nadu government's decision “to give the green signal to commissio