Koodankulam Jobs

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) has assured priority for qualified people who had given their land for the establishment of the Koodankulam atomic power project in recruitment of hands for the group C and D jobs.
This was disclosed by the District Collector, Mr. Sunil Paliwal, at a meeting of the heads of the local bodies and the representatives of Koodankulam and surrounding villages to discuss their demands at the Collectorate here on Friday. The meeting was held in the presence of Mr. S. K. Agrawal, Project Director, Koodankulam Project. Mr. M. Appavu, independent MLA, representing Radhapuram Assembly constituency under which the project fell, also participated.
Today's meeting follows picketing organised by the residents of these villages, led by Mr. Appavu, on Nov. 16 to press their charter of demands, including priority in job opportunities, contract, etc for the locals.
Mr. Agrawal made it clear that the employment of group C and D workers will be done only from among the local people, depending upon the manpower planning. The recruitment will commence within a couple of months and it will be an ongoing process. In case qualified hands not available from among the donors, then priority will be given to the people of Radhapuram taluk, followed by the residents of other parts of Tirunelveli district. The NPCIL will itself undertake the recruitment.
As far as recruitment of people for the group A and B jobs, steps will be taken for the publication of suitable advertisements in this regard so that the message reached the people of the district.
Regarding the other demand for the shifting of the administrative office of the project to Koodankulam, Mr. Agrawal said, this would be done by May 2002. It was also decided at the meeting to give priority in contract works of the project for the qualified local contractors.
Messrs P. Kannappan, superintendent of police, Brajendra Navnit, Assistant Collector, Cheranmahadevi, K. Anbumani, deputy manager, Madras Atomic Power Station, Kalpakkam, Mrs. Deisy Inbanayagam, chairman and Mr. K. P. K. Selvaraj, vice- chairman of the Radhapuram panchayat union participated in the meeting.
In an informal chat with press persons later, Mr. Agrawal said, the representatives who participated in today's meeting whole- heartedly welcomed the Koodankulam project and assured their total cooperation. He said, no issue on the Kudankulam project was leftout without consultation by the NPCIL. The Corporation is interested in sharing all information with the local people on what it intended to do till the project took a final shape.
Mr. Agrawal said, the NPCIL has been organising regular meetings with the local people for exchange of views and reducing the communication gap. Such interaction will continue in future.
The NPCIL will also allot special funds for undertaking welfare programmes in the surrounding villages.