Thaindian News

Moscow, Dec 16 (IANS) The Russian-built unit I of the Kudankulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu will be operationalised “in a couple of weeks”, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here Friday, expressing confidence the Indian government will convince the locals protesting against the facility.

He said unit II of the plant will be operational “within six months” of unit I going critical, apart from announcing that India and Russia had finalised the text of the protocol for grant of Russian credit and that their negotiations on the techno-commercial offer on the construction of units III and IV were at an advanced stage.

Manmohan Singh made the announcement at a joint press conference with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev here soon after the 12th India-Russia summit even as Indian authorities are still struggling to convince local villagers that the nuclear plant is safe.

“I am confident that in a couple of weeks we should be able to go ahead in operationalising Kudankulam-I and, thereafter, in a period of six months, the Kudankulam-II,” he said in reply to a question.

“Kudankulam I and II are at an advanced stage and they are very close to being operationalised,” he added.

Alluding to the villagers’ protests against the nuclear plant, he said there were “temporary problems” in view of “some agitations” due to their concerns over the safety of the plant and its impact on their livelihood.

“We are confident we will be able to persuade some persons that their concerns are adequately taken care of and that our nuclear plants are safe and sound and there is nothing to worry about,” he said. “That’s a commitment both India and Russia will honour.”

The protocol for Russian credit for Kudankulam units III and IV had been finalised as envisaged in their 2008 inter-governmental agreement and that they looked forward to moving ahead in their bilateral nuclear energy road map they signed in 2010.

With regard to units III and IV, India and Russia have a difference of opinion with regard to the recently-notified Indian nuclear liability rules and laws, with Moscow expressing its dismay over New Delhi’s insistence on making them applicable to the additional units at the Kudankulam plant site.

The liability rules are not applicable to units I and II, as these were signed in late 1980s and in mid-1990s, much before India decided to enact laws to fix responsibility on nuclear technology firms and supplies for accidents.

Manmohan Singh also said that Russia is “a friend and a trusted partner” in the nuclear energy programme of India and that they are committed to ensure highest levels of nuclear safety, adhering to international standards.