Kalam backs Koodankulam project

Koodankulam: Giving a thumbs up to the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project, former President A P J Abdul Kalam today said he is "fully satisfied" with the safety measures incorporated in the mega power project.

Joining the efforts of top nuclear scientists involved in allaying the fears of the locals who are demanding scrapping of the project, Kalam held talks with KNPP officials. "I am completely satisfied. I am happy too see such safety measures. I am happy that this reactor will be safe to all the people around the plant," Kalam told reporters after inspecting the Indo-Russian joint venture.

The former President said the reactor was "safe and protected." The KNPP ran into trouble following opposition from locals who cited safety aspects of the plant, especially after the Fukushima disaster in Japan.

Kalam, a votary of nuclear energy, said his visit here was purely as a technologist and scientist.  Kalam said he had studied four safety aspects of the KNPP and expressed satisfaction.

Noting that he had come here to talk to scientists to discuss the safety system, the former President said he will inform the people about its safety.

"I started communicating today and tomorrow also I will communicate. There is an international conference tomorrow and it will be communicated at the event," he said. The plant was situated 13.5 metres above sea level and 1,300 km from the seismic central point. "It is located in a low seismic zone," he said.