Kerala could get a nuclear power station if the state provides land for the purpose, according to a suggestion made during a recent high-level meeting between Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and State Power Minister K Krishnankutty here.
Official sources stated that such a suggestion emerged during discussions about Kerala’s demand, mentioned in a memorandum submitted to the union minister, that the thorium deposits in the state should be utilised and that the power generated from them should be provided to Kerala.
State Power ministry sources in Kerala told PTI that Kerala did not demand a nuclear power station in the state but only suggested that the union government should make use of the Thorium deposits in Kerala.
Khattar, while discussing various demands of Kerala, which is incapable of increasing its domestic power production and depend mostly on the existing hydro-electrical projects and power brought from neighbouring states, said that the union government is open to the idea of granting a nuclear power station to Kerala, provided the state gives the land, they said.
“There were no further discussions on the subject as it involves larger studies and inspections by various agencies. It was just a suggestion given by the union minister,” a senior official attached to KSEB said on request of anonymity.