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A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told her that the stir against the Koodankulam nuclear power project would hit the state's development, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday said that her government would respect the sentiments of locals on the controversial project.
"As for as the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project is concerned, the Tamil Nadu government will certainly act after respecting the local peoples' sentiments. I will be one among you in the issue," she told a campaign rally in Tuticorin.
Her statement assumes significance as the prime minister on Wednesday wrote to her for the second time on the issue, saying the stoppage of work at the Indo-Russian nuclear plant may hit the state's progress as it is scheduled to get 925 MW out of the 2x1000 MW project.
He had also sought her continued cooperation for the implementation of the project, set to be commissioned later this year.
Jayalalithaa's assurance came as the indefinite fast against the multi-crore project entered the fifth day at Idinthakarai in Tirunelveli district.
Upset by the prime minister's letter, Coordinator of the People's Movement against KNPP S P Udhayakumar had on Wednesday said if the state government was really serious about the resolution passed by its Cabinet, seeking a halt to the project, it should reject Dr Singh's request.