(a)whether the Government has received any request from the State Government of Tamil Nadu for early commissioning of unit II of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant(KNPP);
(b)if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
(c)the installed capacity of the KNPP unit II; and
(d)the steps taken by the Government to provide adequate compensation and job opportunities for the local people who have been displaced due to this power plant?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH):
(a)Yes, Sir.
(b)The second unit of Kudankulam project (KKNPP-2 - 1000 MW) was made critical on July 10, 2016 and connected to the grid on August 29, 2016. Thereafter, the unit power was raised in steps in line with regulatory clearances and it reached its full power of 1000 MW on January 21, 2017. The unit is presently under test operation at its rated power of 1000 MW, generating infirm (non-commercial) power. The unit is expected to start commercial operation in the current financial year.
(c)The installed capacity of the unit is 1000 MW. It has generated about 1515 Million Units of electricity (upto January 31, 2017) since its connection to grid.
(d)There was no displacement involved at Kudankulam. The compensation for land and landed assets as finalised by the State Government was paid to the land owners. The setting up of the project provided employment opportunities for the local people in Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). About 97% of the employees in Group B, C & erstwhile Group D at Kudankulam are from Tamil Nadu State. Large number of locals are employed with the contractors. In addition, business opportunities for the locals in supply of goods and services have also been generated.
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