KNPP director admits to delay in maintenance work in Unit 1

Admitting to a delay in undertaking maintenance work in Unit-I of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) its director R S Sundar today said it would be over by November this year and power generation would begin by that month end or December.
He stated this while participating in the Indo-Russian cultural and friendship society conference in the district today, but did not specify reasons for the delay.
Sundar said maintenance of turbines was over and work on the reactors was being done now.
"This will be completed by the end of November and power generation will begin by November end or December this year," he said.

Sundar said power generation in Unit II was also being delayed due to the maintenance work and expressed confidence that Unit II would start generating power by February 2016.
The Director said preliminary work on Units 3 and 4 were going on in full swing.

Referring to the fifth and sixth units, he said talks were going on.
The first unit of the Indo-Russian Joint Venture has been operational commercially since December 2014.
It had attained criticality in July 2013 after much delay, largely due to protests against the project by anti-nuclear activists, spearheaded by People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy, in areas around the complex, citing safety reasons.

Sundar claimed that the operation of the plant had in no way affected the livelihood of the fishermen living in the area.
He also paid rich tributes to the Russian engineers "who have been working in the site with dedication."
Sergey L Kotov, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Chennai, presided.