Move triggered by earthquake of 8.9 magnitude that has been felt in Indonesia The state-run Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) would soon shut down the two units each of 220 MW at the Kalpakaam nuclear project. The step has been taken as a precautionary measure in the wake of a tsunami warning issued by Indonesia after a quake with a preliminary magnitude of 8.9 hit waters off westernmost Aceh province. Kalpakkam plant is situated in seismic zone II. NPC chairman and managing director SK Jain told Business Standard: "As the warning came at around 2 pm it will take at least four to six hours to reach tsunami waves to Indian coast. We have been in constant touch with Andaman and Nicobar through hot line. What we have been told is that waves are of 3 to 6 metres high. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, we will soon shut down Kalpakkam nuclear plant. It will take half an hour or an hour to shut down. Also, we will keep in position additional water supply as well as power generators in place." Jain said the tsunami which was generated in December 2004 was due to high-intensity earthquake in Indonesia-Sumatra island. The plant was not damaged during 2004 tsunami. Subsequently, NPC constructed a tsunami wall by spending Rs 10 crore by involving IIT Chennai and couple of other organisations. Jain said that special trees had been planted which would reduce the impact of tsunami waves near the Kalpakkam plant. The department of atomic energy had said in its release in December 2004 that 61 people had died in townships and villages surrounding the plant, of which 31 worked at the plant.