After much delay due to stiff opposition by activists and technical hitches, the Kudankulam nuclear power project will finally go critical in a day or two. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority on Thursday granted clearance for the first 1000MW unit for attaining criticality. An AERB press release said the clearance was given after the plant complied with all the directives of the SC on safety. “We were satisfied that the safety and other parameters had been complied with. Only after several tests, we gave the clearance,” AERB chief S S Bajaj told TOI. Once the unit attains criticality, power production will begin. It will be erratic initially and will settle down within 15 to 20 days, he said, adding if the reactor reaches half its capacity, the power produced will be transmitted to the grid. Tamil Nadu will get its much-needed share of 450MW from the first unit. Apart from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka is expected to get 221MW, Kerala 133MW, Puducherry 33MW. The remaining power hasn’t been allocated to any state yet. Faced with a serious power crisis, TN CM J Jayalalithaa had been demanding the entire 1000MW from the first unit for the state through letters to the PM.