NPC moots safety programme to check radiological risk

Also on the cards are vocational training and jobs for locals

State-run Nuclear Power Corporation plans to put in place a comprehensive environment management plan to minimise the effects of radiation after the commissioning of the proposed 2x700 MW nuclear project, which will have pressurised heavy water reactors at Chutka in Madhya Pradesh.

The Corporation’s comprehensive plan will have all the safety measures stipulated by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), such as adequate engineered safety system with sufficient redundancy, diversity to deal with off normal situation, hazard analysis and safety measures to reduce the undue risk to employees, members of public and environment.

NCP ensures regular monitoring of the radiological levels in different components in surrounding environment, regular monitoring of personal radiation dose and regular health check-up of the workers.

The company has estimated exposure of liquid effluents dose of 45.4E-03 milli Sieverts per year (mSv/y) for adults and 45.1E-3 mSv/y for infants from the Chutka project. Exposure of gaseous emission dose is estimated at 3.52E-02 mSv/y for adults and 5.72E-02 mSv/y for infants.

Details of the environment management plan and mitigation measures have been included in the draft environment impact assessment report prepared by the National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute for the Chutka nuclear project. NPC released the report last week.

Chutka is one of the indigenously made projects cleared by the Centre. Projects of 11,000 MW using pressurised heavy water reactors are being planned. For the projects, 497.73 hectares of land will be acquired and statutory clearances will be done during the current financial year. The construction of the first unit of 700 MW is expected to begin in June 2015 and complete in December 2020.  NPC plans to commence the building of the second unit of 700 MW in December 2015 and complete it in June 2021.

NPC has also proposed treatment and disposal of active waste and compliance to radiological standards for air and water for the conservation of forest and plant species.

According to NPC, there are five distinct barriers between the radioactive material and the environment to protect the public, flora and fauna and environment from radioactive releases. The fool-proof advanced technological systems  would be  adopted for segregation treating, processing and secured disposal of radioactive waste through air, liquid and solid waste routes according to AERB requirements.

NPC’s resettlement and rehabilitation policy focuses on the creation and upgradation of skill sets of landless persons and other project-affected persons.

The company will organise vocational and formal training, and education for all  identified persons, extending full assistance to them to become eligible for seeking employment at NPC or any other organised sector.