N Stir at Koodankulam suspended for two days

The week-long protest against Koodankulam nuclear power plant was suspended for two days on Sunday in view of the civic polls in Tamil Nadu even as the stir has left over 100 staff members stranded inside the main project complex.

Addressing the protesters in Idinthakarai, leaders of the anti-KNPP movement announced the suspension of the second phase of the stir with immediate effect but said it would be resumed on Tuesday.

The suspension was to enable residents of Idinthakarai and nearby villages to exercise their franchise in the two-phase local body elections being held on Monday, they said.

With roads leading to KNPP blocked for the past four days, the work in some sections of the plant was moving at a snail's pace and was suspended in some others, officials said.

The movement leaders warned that they would resume the blockade if the work resumed during the two days.

More than 100 people have been on the indefinite fast since October 9 while thousands of residents of surrounding villages have been joining them in the stir demanding scrapping of the project.

Earlier, officials said around 100 employees of the emergency services wing were stranded since yesterday as their relievers could not enter the complex due to the blockade by the protestors.