Koodankulam Power plant Row:TN will appoint expert panel-Jayalalithaa announces

With efforts to break the logjam over the Kudankulam Nuclear power plant hitting a dead-end, Tamil Nadu Government has decided to constitute an expert panel to look into the “fears and concerns” of locals over the project.

Making this announcement in the Assembly on Saturday, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said the expert panel would soon submit its report to the state government.

Based on the report, the Government will take further action, she said.

The move by the government comes in the backdrop of both Central expert committee and the anti—nuclear activists ruling out further talks on the controversial Indo-Russian project.

The 15—member expert group (EG), set up by the Centre, stated categorically last week that it had “conclusively addressed” all safety related issues to allay the fears in the minds of local people living around the plant in the coastal Kudankulam.

“Since the representatives of people in the joint forum are not prepared for any presentation from experts (of Central expert group) and discussions, EG finds that it is not in a position to proceed further,” Muthunayagam, Chairman of the Expert Group had said.

S P Udayakumar, Convenor of People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy, spearheading the five—month long protest, had said, “We are not going to engage in talks anymore. Muthunagayam (Central) Committee is a farce”.

Plenty of relief measures to 'Thane" hit farmers

Providing succour to farmers in cyclone Thane affected Cuddalore and Villupuram districts, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Saturday announced a slew of measures for them, including waiver of land tax.

“Cuddalore and Villupuram will be declared cyclone affected districts and land tax will be completely waived for farmers. Further, as part of the over Rs 440.11 crore pending dues in cooperative banks, small-term loans will be converted as medium-term and medium-term as long-term loans,” she said in the Assembly.

New crop loans would be disbursed and this move would benefit over 1.10 lakh farmers, she said.

Ms. Jayalalithaa announced a comprehensive package for farmers of paddy, coconut, cashew and jackfruit, including providing mini-kits, government assistance in irrigation, supplying seeds and samplings, among others.

While it would normally take about six months to restore normalcy in these districts, where the December 30 storm claimed more than 30 lives and caused extensive damage to crops and properties, the AIADMK government had acted swiftly and put things back in order in about a month, she said.

Lauding the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board employees in particular, she said they had worked tirelessly to restore power-related infrastructure that was worst-hit.

On her government’s crackdown on land grabbing, over which several senior DMK men including former ministers are facing cases, she said over 4.35 lakh sq ft of land worth Rs 696 crore had been reclaimed and restored to rightful owners.

Countering the opposition for its allegations of deterioration in law and order, she said her government had accorded top priority for this.

“For instance, murder for gain has reduced by 19.6 per cent in 2011 compared to 2010 and more persons had been detained under Goondas Act after the AIADMK government came to power (in May, 2011),” she said.

- Asian Tribune –

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