Kudankulam row: 'There may be misunderstanding', says Kalam

New Delhi, Apr 10 (ANI): With Sri Lanka voicing concern over the possible impact of radiation from the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu in case of an accident, former Indian President and eminent nuclear scientist Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam said here today that there was no need for concern, adding that there may be a misunderstanding.

"I have not studied the total report. There may be a misunderstanding, the radiation and all content wherever it is being done. There is no concern about it," Kalam told media here.

According to media reports, Sri Lankan Government is likely to take the matter to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) raising concerns of the radiation hazards in case of a mishap.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M. Karunanidhi had earlier in the day hit out at the Sri Lankan Government for raising doubts over the release of harmful radiations from Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

Differences emerged between India and Sri Lanka since New Delhi along with 24 countries voted against Sri Lanka at a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 23.

Established in a joint collaboration between India and Russia, the Kudankulam nuclear power project envisaged to build two 1,000 MW VVER type reactors by December 2011.

The Kudankulam power station is one of several planned power projects that are seen as vital to plugging huge electricity shortages that have damaged economic growth.

India suffers from a peak-hour power deficit of about 12 percent that acts as a brake on an economy growing at nearly 8 percent and causes blackouts in much of the country.

About 40 percent of Indians, or 500 million people, lack electricity, as per a 2011 estimate. (ANI)