Assurances given by the former President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam regarding the Kudankulam nuclear plant have failed to convince villagers protesting against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) in Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu.

Kalam had visited the site on Sunday and said that the plant is safe and does not face a threat from Tsunami. He expressed satisfaction over the safety measures put in place by operators at the plant.

"I am fully convinced with the safety features of the plant, which is the safest with its third-generation safety mechanisms in place. It is safe from natural disasters too," he said following his discussions with scientists, engineers and officials of Nuclear Power Corporation of India.

He clarified that he is not visiting as a mediator between the government and the people. He said he was there only as a scientist. Responding to the comments, an anti-nuclear movement official said that they are not willing to hold discussions with Kalam on the issue.

The visit by the man known as the father of India's missile programme came two days after Atomic Energy Commission chairman Srikumar Banerjee and Nuclear Power Corporation of India chairman SK Jain held a meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Debendranath Sarangi to discuss way to solve the crisis.

The central government has constituted a 15-member expert committee to clear "misconceptions" relating to the site.