Centre reviews security measures at N-plants

The Centre is reviewing the security measures at nuclear power plants across the country, in the wake of the recent terror strikes in Mumbai, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar said on Thursday.

"Several security measures have already been put in place. We are reviewing in the context of what happened in Mumbai and certainly whatever additional (security), which are necessary, we will put in place," he told reporters at the Secretariat.

He said that he had not discussed the security measures at the Kalpakkam plant with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Kakodkar, who is in Chennai to meet the chief minister to seek approval for a Neutrino observatory, said the proposed Koodankulam project was progressing well and would be operational next year.

He hoped that the first unit of Koodankulam will become operational in middle of 2009 and the second unit by next year end.

On future power projects, he said at Koodankulam, two units were under construction and three 200-MW reactor units will also come up.

"We are also constructing 500 MW fast breed reactors in Kodankulam and we have in principle approval of the government for 4x700 MW units," he said,

"We are aggressively developing the uranium project in the country for future energy requirements. One project is currently operational and production will be started soon," he said, adding that more projects were in the pipeline.

He said the government was in the process of opening up international civil nuclear cooperation. "We are negotiating currently and additional projects can be Started after that," he said.