An environmental group has filed a fresh petition in the Madras high court seeking review on clearance for first Approach to Criticality

While Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) achieved its first milestone by achieving criticality on Saturday, protesters have again vowed to fight against it until death.

After much delay due to stiff opposition by activists and technical hitches, the Kudankulam nuclear power project will finally go critical in a day or two.

Despite ban, tourists still use soap, shampoo and plastic covers

Despite Collector C.Samayamoorthy’s assurance that Courtallam town panchayat’s ban on using soap, shampoo and shikakai powder at the waterfalls would be strictly enforced, these banned products are being used.

Fishermen in the coastal hamlets of Tirunelveli district abstained from fishing operations in protest against the Supreme Court verdict that allowed the commissioning of the first reactor of the Ku

Efforts to ease scepticism, safety fears

On the heels of the Supreme Court giving a green signal to the Kudankulam nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), setting up the plant, has stepped up efforts to reach out to the locals, explaining the safety features of the project.

The State Government should allot land in the new industrial estates proposed to be launched in the southern districts for solar power generation, according to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Consumers

AERB governing body likely to take a final decision

With the Supreme Court removing the obstacles for commissioning the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP), the first reactor is likely to go critical any time between May 13 and 20. Highly placed sources in the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), the project proponent, told The Hindu that a team of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board experts were going through the results of the tests conducted a few days ago and holding discussions on the results with the NPCIL technocrats.

Rejecting the Supreme Court verdict in favour of the nuclear power plant in Kudankulam, the members of the protest committee have decided to continue with their stir. A meeting of community elders and leaders of neighbouring villages will be held on Thursday afternoon to discuss the issue.

On Monday, the SC had endorsed the view of the Madras High Court and allowed the commissioning of the power plant. The order included had 15 directions relating to safety, environmental safeguards and disposal of nuclear waste. It had also ordered the state to withdraw cases against agitators.

The Supreme Court on Monday directed that all criminal cases against the agitators opposing the Kudankulam nuclear plant be withdrawn to restore normalcy in the area.

Giving a series of directions, a Bench of Justices K. S. Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra said: “Endeavour should be made to withdraw all the criminal cases filed against the agitators so that peace and normalcy be restored at Kudankulam and nearby places, and steps should be taken to educate the people of the necessity of the plant which is in the largest interest of the nation particularly the State of Tamil Nadu.”