NDMA to test safety applications in 20 nuclear plants

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, will examine the safety applications in 20 nuclear plants and their upgradation, in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Recently, NDMA member B Bhattacharjee had held a discussion with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre director, R K Sinha, Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) chairman and managing director, S K Jain and several nuclear scientists in this regard. Bhattacharjee was deputed by NDMA because of his background in the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). He was the director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre between April 2001 to April 2004. This was followed by his two-year tenure in DAE from May 2002 to April 2006 as special advisor to chairman the Atomic Energy Commission.

NPC official, who did not want to be quoted, told Business Standard, “The Indian nuclear power plants have testified their safety towards the severe earthquake at Bhuj in Gujarat on January 26, 2001, when the Kakrapar project continued to operate safely. During the December 2004 tsunami in Tamil Nadu, the Madras Atomic Power Station shut down without any radiological consequence. In-depth review of all the 20 plants have been conducted and necessary reinforcement features, based on the outcome, have been incorporated. The event of Japan is being reviewed as and when the information is available. Any further reinforcement, if needed in the Indian reactors, will be implemented.”

He said four core groups appointed by NPC has submitted its short-term and long-term recommendations to strengthen safety applications at the nuclear plants.

The short-term measure, the official said, included procurement of medium-sized air cooled power packs, engineering to delink process water emergency storage tanks from process water system and procurement of small pumps with requisite head from power packs to pump water. The long-term measures comprise underground concrete tank of 750 cubic meter including pumps, liquid nitrogen and power pack of 100 cubic meter tank at the heater, solar power lighting, hydrogen management devices and provision of lube oil reservoir on top of turbine generator bearings.