Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Saturday announced that the state government would set up an expert panel to look into the fears and concerns of the locals regarding the Koodankulam nuclear power project (KKNPP).

Making the announcement in the Assembly at the end of the four-day session, she said further action would be taken based on the report to be filed by the team.

The CM noted that the stalemate over the power plant continued despite the constitution of the Central expert team and its four rounds of discussions with the protesters.

The Central team had submitted its reports and had declared that its job was over. “Only one representative of the protesters attended the last meeting with the Central team on January 31,” she pointed out. The new team would file its report soon, she said.

Welcoming the CM’s announcement, People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy coordinator S.P. Udhayakumar told DC in Tirunelveli that it supported their stand that the Central team was biased against them.

He wanted the state to include a few members from their committee as protesters’ representatives.
In another development, Union minister of state in PMO V. Narayanasamy urged religious groups that were “inciting people against the project” to desist from such activity.