The Kundankulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu.
India's largest nuclear plant reached its full power for the first time today afternoon. The Indian atomic energy program got a new high, as the controversial Russian-made nuclear reactor at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu was able to generate 1000 MW of power.
Speaking to NDTV, the chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission Ratan K. Sinha said, "Kudankulam is totally safe and today was a proud moment on reaching this big milestone, now all questions asked by critics should be laid to rest."
The electricity generated at unit number one of the power plant is providing electricity to homes in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry. 12 years in the making and made at a cost of Rs 17,000 crores the reactors have been in the news for a long time for the wrong reasons, first anti-nuclear activists called them unsafe and most recently on May 14, 2014, six workers were injured due to spillage of hot water in the turbine building. The workers are currently recovering from their injuries.
Plant operators say they could declare the plant as commercial in two months. For the next 2-3 days the Kudankulam plant will run at its maximum power of 1000 MW after which as per the directions of the atomic regulator some more tests will be conducted. The second 1000 MW units of the Kudankulam complex will become operational in 2015.