PM reviews safety of N-plants, directs upgradation

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today directed upgradation of safety measures at the country's nuclear facilities to match the global standards as he reviewed the disaster preparedness in the wake of recent radiation scare in Japan.

At a special meeting here, he asked the authorities concerned to look 'beyond design basis accident' while putting in place the safety measures at the nuclear installations.

Singh took stock of the safety measures being undertaken by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL).

He directed DAE and AERB to "upgrade the safety measures in the light of the Fukushima experience (of Japan) and look at Beyond Design Basis Accident", the Home Ministry said in a statement.

The meeting of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was informed about the various procedures put in place in terms of prevention, detection and response to the atomic disasters.

The meeting is understood to have discussed installation of hi-tech gadgets to detect radiation and fast-tracking of creation of additional battalions of disaster response force.

"Our nuclear plants are safe. There are many in-built mechanisms in the nuclear sites to avoid any disaster. The Prime Minister is fully satisfied about the safety facilities. However, we have to take more steps to strengthen our preparedness to deal with any emergency," NDMA Vice Chairman M Shashidhar Reddy said at a press conference later.