Koodankulam row: Tamil Nadu sets up expert panel

The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday set up a four-member expert panel, which includes former atomic energy commission chief M R Srinivasan, to submit a report on the fears and concerns of local people over the Koodankulam nuclear power project.

Besides Srinivasan, the panel would consist of Prof D Arivoli, Prof S Iniyan from Anna University and former Indian Administrative Service officer of chief secretary level, L N Vijayaraghavan. Iniyan would be the 'organiser' of the panel, chief secretary Debendranatha Sarangi said in an official release.

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Last week, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had announced in the state assembly that a panel would be formed to look into the concerns of the locals over the KNPP project.

The proposed panel would submit its report soon and the government's further action on the issue would be based on that report, she had said.

The Indo-Russian joint venture at Koodankulam in Tirunelveli district has run into rough weather following continued protests from locals, spearheaded by the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy, citing safety reasons.

A Centre-appointed expert committee had held consultations at different points of time with the protesters and wrapped up the talks on January 31. While vouching for the safety of the plant, it had also said that its work was over. Anti-KNPP activists, however, had claimed the talks had failed to address their concerns.