Supreme Court of India gives Kudankulam the go ahead

Says opening controversial nuclear power plant is in the national interest.

The Supreme Court dismissed a petition by the plant’s opponents, backing a lower court's order that earlier cleared the opening of the nuclear plant. It said sufficient safeguards were in place and that it was in the national interest to open the plant operational given India's power shortages.

Power blackouts are common in India, and rationing by utility companies has hurt production at factories and farms. Last financial year, India’s power supply was 9% less than demand.

The Kudankulam plant is being developed with both Indian and Russian technology. Two of the plant's reactors, capable of generating 1,000 megawatts of electricity each, have been ready for two years.