Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

TN will get lion's share from Koodankulam power

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI DEC 17. Tamil Nadu will get the lion's share of 1,200 MW from the Koodankulam nuclear power project, when the first two units of 2 x 1000-MWe become operational.

Karnataka, Kerala and Pondicherry will get 500, 250, 50 MW from the Rs. 14,000-crore project.

The project is progressing with accelerated momentum. The raft of a turbine building of unit-I is nearing completion, Vijay Kumar Chaturvedi, Chairman and Managing Director, Nuclear Power Corporation of India, told the media at Koodankulam last night, after reviewing the progress of the project.

``Installation of the highly sophisticated, hermetically-sealed doors, recently imported from Russia for the reactors, is under way. Expediting construction work on unit-II, we have reduced the time lag between units I and II by less than six months.

Work on the turbine building, an intake channel, a temporary dyke, intake structures of a pump house, a condenser pump house and safety-related diesel buildings are also progressing ahead of schedule.

All efforts are being made to complete the construction and commissioning of unit-I in five years and two months and unit-II in five years and eight months, against the earlier stipulated period of five years and eight months and six years and eight months''.

Expressing satisfaction over the construction of both the units, Makare Vych, head of the Russian experts team staying at Koodankulam to assist Indian technocrats, said the life of these plants could be extended even after 50 years by carrying out improvements to the critical components of the reactors.

The project director, S.K. Agrawal, said the widening of the road from Anjugramam to the Koodankulam site, to facilitate easy movement of heavy trucks, would start in January next and the work would be completed within four months.

``We have also planned to provide a green cover in the entire area occupied by the NPCIL at Koodankulam''.

On recruitment of trainees, he said the first phase of the process had been completed transparently.

More opportunities were given to local youth and candidates from other parts of Tamil Nadu.

``However, we will have to go for candidates from other States if we don't find qualified personnel in Tamil Nadu'.

7 more units

On other projects of the NPCIL, Mr. Chaturvedi said it was planned to start work on seven more units across the country in 2005.

Fifteen other units, with a total capacity of 8,800 MWe, were either under construction or in the final stage of commissioning.

The NPCIL, now operating 14 units, ``is also working on the design of 700- MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors for a future PHWR programme, which will provide a competitive edge to the corporation.

Work on the 500-MWe Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam will be started early next year''.

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