Says agitation can delay commissioning of Koodankulam project Russia today said the ongoing agitation against the Koodankulam nuclear power plant in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu was unfortunate. It expressed the apprehension that the stir might delay commissioning of the first 1,000-MW reactor at the site. ‘‘The Indo-Russian task force and the Indian Department of Atomic Energy have checked the facility and have come to the conclusion that the first reactor is absolutely safe. It incorporates sufficient passive systems that guarantee safety of the plant in the worst case scenario,’’ Russian Embassy spokesman Sergey V Karmalito told The Tribune. His statement came even as some 10,000 people joined the protests, demanding shutdown of the Koodankulam nuclear power plant in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in March and yesterday’s explosion at a nuclear waste facility in France, in which one person was killed and four were injured. Numerous politicians have joined the protests. Expressing satisfaction with Russia’s nuclear cooperation with India, the spokesman said, ‘‘We are at a stage when the first and most powerful reactor is all set to be commissioned by the end of the year…all the trials are over. In fact, the hot run of the plant was done just last month.’’ He said both Indian and Russian sides had discussed every possible scenario and had taken adequate measures for safety of the Koodankulam project. Noting that the people of the area were protesting that the project could affect the area’s ecology, Karmalito said, ‘‘There is absolutely no problem about the Koodankulam project influencing the ecological system.’’ ‘‘It is unfortunate that an agitation against the Koodankulam project has started… We hope the local authorities and the DoT will be able to explain to the local population the facts about the situation,’’ he added. Karmalito said India required nuclear energy and Russia was trying to assist it in every possible way. “We are currently discussing third and fourth reactors at Koodankulam with the Indian authorities… Nuclear energy will help not only the local population but also India as a whole,’’ he further stated. Apprehensions raised: Locals have been demanding shutdown of the Koodankulam nuclear power plant in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in March and the recent explosion at a nuclear waste facility in France, in which one person was killed and four were injured.