With the Tamil Nadu government under pressure to ease the acute power situation, the centre today hoped that it would be able to commission the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project "very soon", with the state government being "very very positive" to the plant opening.

"My hunch is that Tamil Nadu government will take a decision as early as possible" on the project, work on which has come to a standstill for many months following protests from locals, spearheaded by People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), minister of state in the PMO V Narayanasamy told reporters in Chennai.

He said the state government was taking a positive approach and was cooperating with the centre as the law and order issue was a state subject. He added there was regular interaction between central and state government officials.

Denying any "double-game" by the Tamil Nadu government he said, the state was aware that it needed power and assured to provide 1000 MW of the energy from Koodankulam plant though its original share was 925 MW.

Narayanasamy's remarks assume significance against the backdrop of the state government appointed panel going into the safety aspects last month and giving the project a clean chit.

Earlier the 15-member expert panel team from the centre set up to allay the fears of the locals had vouched for the safety of the Indo-Russian project, where work on the first two units to produce 2000 MW of power had been almost completed.

The Tamil Nadu government, yesterday sent its additional director general of police (law and order) S George and other police top brass to assess the law and order situation.

According to Narayansamy, by preventing scientists and employees from entering the plant, the protestors were taking the law into their hands, adding that the police had filed 150-odd cases against them.

Regarding the deportation of German national Sonnteg Reiner Hermann on the grounds that he participated in anti-KNPP protests, Narayanasamy said a probe was on. He added, a site map of the project besides some local contacts were found from the electronic gadgets in his possession (See: German 'tourist' deported over TN anti-nuclear protests).

Meanwhile, in a public interest initiative, the Velammal Educational Trust has roped in hundreds of school students to act as 'ambassadors' for Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant and garner support for commissioning of the project at the earliest.

With the explanation of advanced safety features being incorporated in the nuclear plant to students, a movement to mobilise public opinion in a big way got under way in Madurai yesterday.

Senior officials from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant spoke to students to create awareness among them at the two-day Nuclear Energy Educational Meet (NEEM-2012) at the Velammal College of Engineering and Technology on 2  and 3 March.

The students were made to realise the acute power shortage  in the state and how a 2,000-MW nuclear power plant, which was ready, could not be commissioned due to ''vested interests and selfish individuals.'' An appeal was made to send telegrams to the chief minister demanding that the KKNPP be commissioned immediately.

R S Sundar, station director, KKNPP explained the advanced safety systems installed in the plant and how the plant could withstand an earthquake or tsunami, as also its radiation proof design to students of various schools.

(Also see: DAE sets up panel to address concerns over Kudankulam N-power project)