As a first crucial step, the State has disclosed that the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) has bagged consultancy for the project, a multi-institutional effort led by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)Â and others.
The alternative site in Theni district seems to have been de facto favoured for the purpose, as Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh turned down the Singara site in November 2009 as it "falls in the buffer zone of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the Nilgiris" and also an elephant corridor.
Tabling the “Demands for Grants" for the Energy Department in the Assembly, Law Minister Durai Murugan, officiating for the ailing Electricity Minister Arcot Veeraswamy, stated in his policy note that the Rs 900 Crore project "is proposed to be located in Bodi West Hills, Pottipuram village of Theni district".
Read the full report by M R Venkatesh here.
