Centre looking into TN's demand for entire power from KNPP

The Centre is looking into Tamil Nadu's demand for allocation of entire power to be generated from the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant, Minister of State in the PMO, V Narayanasamy on Friday said.

"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is already looking into it and I will also take up the matter with him," Narayanasamy told the media in Chennai.

Narayanasamy said he was aware of the power shortage in the state, adding, he will request Dr Singh to consider Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's plea in this regard. He said the first unit at KNPP to generate 1000 MW will be commissioned in two months and the next in another two months. This will pave the way for generation of 2000 MW in the next four months.

In a letter to Dr Singh recently, Jayalalithaa had pointed out that of the 2000 MW to be generated by two units in KNPP, Tamil Nadu had been allocated a share of 925 MW only and demanded that the entire power be given to the state in view of the "severe power shortage."

The Tamil Nadu cabinet had on March 19 given the go-ahead for commencement of work at the plant which remained stalled for several months following protest by anti-nuclear activists and locals led by People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy citing safety concerns.