Inferior material used in Kudankulam plant, says Achuthanandan

Kerala's former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan Friday said the material used in the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) was of inferior quality and the issue of safety measures was yet to be addressed.

Achuthanandan said in a press release: "The disintegration of the top portion of a concrete container damaged the welding of the reactors. It is a cause of concern. Scientists had expressed their fear over inferior quality parts in the plant. Russian federal security agencies had arrested an official of the company that supplied inferior parts in 2012."

"Lives and property should be uppermost in the minds of the centre. They should not go ahead with the plant," added Achuthanandan.

He added that in South Korea, authorities stopped the functioning of three nuclear plants in 2012 after they were found to have used poor quality cables and materials.

Achuthanandan's remarks have come at a time when work on the 1,000 MW first unit at the plant is expected to get over in 48-72 hours.