N-plant latest: Jaya seeks all power from it for TN

“Tamil Nadu is facing a severe power shortage and it would therefore be proper and justifiable that the entire power to be generated from the Koodankulam nuclear power plant is made available to Tamil Nadu. This is also inevitable,as the transmission corridor congestion problem still continues…,” she said in the letter. “We require and deserve this power,” she added.

The state had already made a request for an allocation of 1000 MW from the central pool but a “mere 100 MW was made available to Tamil Nadu,” she said.

The Chief Minister had informed the Assembly during the ongoing discussion on the state Budget that the first unit with an installed capacity of 1000 MW would be on stream in two months,of which 462 MW would be allotted to the state. That meets only a fraction of the demand in Tamil Nadu that is reeling under a power crisis and that has had its impact on industries,investment and domestic households alike.

Meanwhile,Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan on Saturday visited Idinthakarai to offer support to the protests against the nuclear power plant. He continued his attack on the Centre,this time on the way the agitation was being dealt with.

He alleged that false cases including that of sedition were being lodged,raids were being carried out by both central and Tamil Nadu authorities to investigate allegations of diversion of foreign funds and police had been deployed in large number to terrorise the protesting villagers. Bhushan held discussions with the leader of the struggle,S P Udayakumar,and later addressed a gathering at Idinthakarai.

The villagers have decided to give up boycotting schools,refraining from going to sea and closing shops and other establishments as was being done as a measure of protest the past few days.

Sasikala’s expulsion revoked

Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa revoked the expulsion of her controversial close aide V K Sasikala from the party,three days after the latter publicly distanced herself from her kith and kin,including her husband,for going against the party supremo.

“I have accepted the explanation given by Sasikala and thus decided to revoke her expulsion; the punitive action against her as announced on March 19 has thus been cancelled,” said Jayalalithaa in a statement on Saturday.

But the action against the others in the family would stay,she said,adding that party members should not have any dealings with them.