Even as tensions ran high at Idinthakarai on Monday, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa appealed to those demonstrating against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) to give up their protest and provide the assistance necessary for its operationalisation.
Jayalalithaa also expressed her condolence to the family of the person killed when police opened fire on a mob that torched a temporary checkpost at Manappadu in Thoothukudi district. She announced a solatium of `5,00,000 to the family of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s General Relief Fund. The Chief Minister assured the fishing community that they would not be affected by the power plant. “Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant will in no way affect the livelihoods of the fishermen. So, I appeal to the people not to fall prey to the propaganda of those who oppose nuclear power as a matter of policy,” said Jayalalithaa in a statement on Monday. “Further, I appeal to those who are against nuclear power as a matter of policy to give up their protest and extend support towards the operationalisation of the nuclear power plant,” she added.
Recalling the course the issue had taken, Jayalalithaa listed the steps taken by her government to allay the fears of those protesting against the project. She recalled that expert groups set up by both the Centre and State had given a clean chit on its safety, and noted that the protestors had gone to the Madras High Court with a plea against the operationalisation of KKNPP.
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