Chennai, Dec.25 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will bendertaking a two-day visit of Tamil Nadu from Sunday, during which,issues such as the Mullaperiyar Dam row, the stalled Koodankulam project, financial assistance and additional power to the state are likely to be discussed.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M Karunanidhi had told reporters on Saturday that he will be meeting the Prime Minister on Monday to discuss the Mullaperiyar issue.
He also said that he would discuss the attacks on Tamils in Kerala.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been at loggerheads over the dam-located in Kerala, but under the control of Tamil Nadu and serving the state.
Tamil Nadu is stongly objecting to Kerala's demand of a new dam and reduction in storage level to 120 feet till a new dam is built.
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is also likely to meet Dr. Singh on Sunday.
This is the first time Manmohan Singh is visiting Tamil Nadu after the AIADMK came to power in May. He came here in January to inaugurate the Indian Science Congress.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is reportedly sore with the Centralovernment for not heeding her requests for financial assistance,dditional power and kerosene allocation to the state.
The Koodankulam project is also another issue which is a bone ofontention between the state and central governments.
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) is building two 1,000 MW atomic power reactors at Koodankulam in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district, around 650 km from Chennai, at an outlay of Rs.13,171 crore.
The first unit was slated to be commissioned in December. Howeverillagers, citing fears for their lives and safety, started theiragitation in August and brought all the project-related activities to a standstill.
The Tamil Nadu cabinet has passed a resolution urging the centralovernment to stop all works at the project site till the fears arellayed.
Manmohan Singh's comments during his recent visit to Russia that the first reactor at Koondankulam would be operationalised in two weeks time did not go down well with Jayalalithaa.
In turn, Jayalalithaa wrote to the prime minister that she wasamazed" to see such comments being made and reminded him of the cabinet resolution.
Meanwhile parties like DMDK and MDMK have announced staging black flag demonstrations during the prime minister's visit.
On Monday, Dr.Singh will participate in the 125th birth anniversaryelebrations of mathematician S.Ramanujan organised by The Institute of Mathematical Sciences.
He would then leave for Karaikudi in Sivaganga district to participate in a function at Alagappa University and inaugurate the 100th eye hospital of the Vasan Healthcare Group.
He will return to New Delhi on Monday. (ANI)
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