Tirunelveli (TN): The Koodankulam nuclear power plant coming up in Tamil Nadu would be made "radiation proof" with the installation of Russian-designed "core-catcher", a facility being provided for the first time in the world, Project director Agarwal said today (Apr 1, 2004). The facility, weighing 110 tonnes, would make the plant "radiation proof" and prevent radiation totally. It would smell immediately even a slight leakage and defuse the radiation, he said.

He said that the construction of the plant, in collaboration with Russia, which began in 2002 was progressing "very fast, and the building infrastructure would be completed by 2005".

Apart from 24 Russian experts, who were camping at the plant site, another 20 experts would arrive in Koodankulam to expedite the project and take up the work of installing the nuclear power boiler, he said.

Thirty persons had already been trained in the operation and maintenance of the plant and another 18 were going to receive the training. A training centre would also be set up at the plant complex, Agarwal added.