Chat with SP Udaykumar on Koodankulam nuke plant row

The Koodankulam nuclear power project has always been in the news for all the wrong reasons. The project has been under construction for over a decade. Now, the villagers of Idinthakarai have decided that they don't want a plant there.

They fear a repeat of what happened at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan following the March 11, 2011 tsunami

Koodankulam is heavily protected by the Tamil Nadu police and the Central Industrial Security Force. They have also started an agitation to stop the plant becoming functional.

The protests are being spearheaded by S P Udaykumar, who is a native of Nagercoil in neighbouring Kanyakumari district.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sent a special emissary to meet them. But talks with the protestors yielded no result.

Tamil Nadu has chronic power shortage. At some places, power cuts extend upto 6 hours a day. Yet, the much-needed nuclear power plant is being opposed.

Udaykumar will be here on Rediff Chat on October 28 at 4 pm to answer your queries about the controversial project and why the villagers are up in arms against the project.

Read S P Udaykumar's interview:
In conversation with the man heading the Koodankulam protest

(Due to circumstances beyond our control, date and time of chat may change)