CHENNAI, 31 AUG: Madras High Court today gave its nod to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP), clearing the decks for the fuel loading and commissioning of unit 1 of the controversy-hit Indo-Russian project. Dismissing a batch of petitions challenging commissioning of units 1 and 2 of KNPP, a Division Bench comprising Mr Justice P Jyothimani and Mr Justice M Duraiswamy said the project did not suffer from any infirmity for want of clearance from authorities. “There is absolutely no impediment to proceed in units 1 and 2 of KNPP,” the Bench said in its order, which was keenly awaited for loading the real fuel in the 1,000-MW unit 1. The court also said the Union and Tamil Nadu governments should oversee the plant continuously and take steps to protect the interests of the people and fishermen in the area. Besides undertaking awareness schemes, the HC also wants the state government to establish a multi-speciality hospital and schools with hostel for local children, extend financial assistance to local fishermen so that they are able to buy mechanised boats and provide port and cold storage facilities to preserve the catch. The collector of Tirunelveli, the district in which plant is situated, should ensure off-shore safety drills involving the public are regularly held, it said. Another Bench comprising Mr Justice P Jyothimani and Mr Justice P Devadoss dismissed a petition challenging the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)'s clearance for loading real fuel in the plant.