Karunanidhi slams Sri Lanka for raising doubts over nuke power plant

Chennai, Apr 10 (ANI): Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday slammed the Sri Lankan government for raising doubts over the release of harmful radiations from Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

Talking to reporters here, Karunanidhi said that the idea to build the nuclear plant at Kudankulam was mooted several years ago and it was unacceptable for them to accept any complaint at this stage.

"Kudankulam project has not started yesterday. Way back many years, the project was conceived, planned and work was carried out. But now with an intention to divert the attention of the public, it is not acceptable," he added. s reported, Colombo had voiced concern over the adverse impact of radiations from Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

Sri Lanka had indicated that they would take up the issue with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the global atomic supervisory body.

On being asked about India's stand on the issue, Karunanidhi said that Central Government would take adequate steps for the benefit of the nation.

Differences emerged between India and Sri Lanka since New Delhi along with 24 countries voted against Sri Lanka at a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 23.

Established in a joint collaboration between India and Russia, the Kudankulam nuclear power project envisaged to build two 1,000 MW VVER type reactors by December 2011.

The Kudankulam power station is one of several planned power projects that are seen as vital to plugging huge electricity shortages that have damaged economic growth.

India suffers from a peak-hour power deficit of about 12 percent that acts as a brake on an economy growing at nearly 8 percent and causes blackouts in much of the country.

About 40 percent of Indians, or 500 million people, lack electricity, as per a 2011 estimate. (ANI)