NPC to appoint member of green lobby on its board

Will allocate 2% of net profit of N-plant towards CSR initiatives.

Board seat for a member of green lobby. This will be a reality soon as the India’s premier nuclear power generator, Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC), which is engaged in increasing the nuclear capacity to 63,000 Mw by 2032, would soon appoint environmentalist on its board of directors.

NPC would also set up advisory committee comprising social scientists, environmentalists and NGO to advise the organisation on environment issues. Further, NPC board has taken a decision to allocate two per cent of net profit of the nuclear plant towards corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

NPC’s move is crucial, especially when there has been a rising opposition against its 10,000 Mw nuclear project in Maharashtra. Villagers fear the plant would damage horticulture, agriculture and marine life in the adjoining areas.

NPC chairman and managing director S K Jain told Business Standard, “ We care about the environment for the sustainability of operations. The vast stretches of land, on which nuclear reactors are set up, provide an opportunity for our green initiatives. Environmentalists have a view point and we are prepared to do much more as NPC does not believe in short-cuts. Therefore, an environmentalist will be appointed our board of directors who can help improve our environment protection measures.”

He said the advisory committee would also be instrumental to suggest changes in NPC’s safety and environment programmes.

NPC has implemented environment stewardship programme (ESP), which focuses on the scientific study of bio-diversity within and around the exclusion zones. As part of the programme, local volunteers are trained and campaigns are organised to enhance green awareness.

Jain said NPC has been associated with Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) to educate people in environment conservation and avifauna.

“The thick afforestation around the plants allures a variety of local and migratory birds. Campaigns on local environment are conducted by NPC. The Kaiga plant, in association with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), participates in the activity of releasing fish seedlings. The Narora plant, in association with WWF carries out surveys of the Ganga dolphins. Each nuclear plant has an environment safety laboratory, which is operated by the Health Physics division of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre,” he said.

According to Jain, NPC’s environment monitoring programme monitors the environment and the radiation exposure to the public due to the operations of the nuclear plants. This analysis is carried out using sophisticated radio chemical analysis and other highly sensitive instruments.