Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Koodankulam main plant completion by 2007

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI April 12. The construction activities of the main plant at the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project site have started in a big way and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) has set a very ambitious target of completion of Unit one by 2007, the Project Director of the Koodankulam NPP, S. K. Agrawal, said.

Speaking to presspersons at the Koodankulam project site on Friday, Mr. Agrawal pointed out that after the first pour of concrete on March 31, the reactor construction works are progressing at a fast pace. The experts team from the Russian Federation, which visited the project site recently, expressed confidence that the main plant construction work will be completed as scheduled.

`The NPCIL and its scientists want to live up to the expectations of the Russian experts and will not leave any stone unturned to demonstrate their ebullience. Our scientists are bent on challenging the targets set by the Russian specialists and beat the deadline set by them in every aspect', he added.

At the same time, the NPCIL is committed to constructing the project at the optimum cost so that the energy produced by the plant is cheaper, benefiting the general public by getting cheap power.

Replying to a question, Mr. Agrawal said the 2 x 1000 MWe reactors being built in Koodankulam belonged to the family of advanced reactors having very high standard of safety so that even under accidental conditions, safety of the public and environment is ensured.

Before taking up the construction of the plant, review of the safety aspects and the preliminary safety analysis report is carried out by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). Only after the review and acceptance of the preliminary safety analysis report, the construction clearance for the project has been given. A team of Russian specialists will be available during the implementation of the project to oversee the construction and to give the technical support.

When asked about the steps taken to protect the Koodankulam NPP from enemy attacks, Mr. Agrawal said there are many agencies in the country, which are responsible for safeguarding the plant. They will discharge their respective duties.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• POTA will be used against LTTE supporters
• Silk cotton, cashew coops for Andipatti
• TANSI cases: DMK moves SC again for early hearing
• Child welfare committees
• Constituency gearing for CM visit
• Bank loans for women: CM to convene meet
• Elangovan hails CM stand on LTTE
• `Right of audience doesn't inhere in agent'
• Koodankulam main plant completion by 2007
• PCO operators also in TDS net
• 3 Erwadi patients reunited with relatives
• Medical camp for tribals
• Karunanidhi welcomes PM's statement
• Govt. grant for scholarship

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu