The AIADMK government's "sudden volte-face" in the Koodankulam Nuclear Plant Project issue after it had initially supported the project was "not understandable," Tamil Nadu Congress Committe President BS Gnanadesikan said here today.
"The Tamil Nadu government had initially expressed its support for the KNPP and had demanded its early commissioning. Now, the sudden volte-face of the State government towards KNPP is not understandable," he said.
Gnanadesikan also said he could not understand why the state government had not arrested many protestors involved in the anti-KNPP agitation despite registering cases against them.
Describing the power project as an important national project, he said it would cater to the needs of an energy-starved India. Moreover, 50 per cent of the nuclear energy produced from the two reactors at KNPP, about 925 mw, will be given to Tamil Nadu, so the state government must support the project, Gnanadesikan said.
Asked whether the Central government was turning a blind eye to the demand of the Tamil Nadu government seeking a financial package to the tune of Rs 24,000 crore, he said neither the Prime Minister not the Union Finance Minister has the power to earmark the allocation of funds demanded, as it is the prerogative of the devolution of Financial Packages Act to the State governments.
On the allocation of Rs23,000 crore to the naxal-infested states such as Bihar and West Bengal, he said these were given for rehabilitation and development measures. But the TNCC would fully support the state government's effort to get the financial assistance from the Centre, he added.
Congress will hold a public meeting here on February 4 urging the commissioning of the KNPP. Gnanadesikan said Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Union Shipping Minister GK Vasan and Union Minister of State in the PMO, V Narayanaswamy will be among those who participate in the meeting.
