Priority is to remove irrational fears about radiation: Ratan Kumar Sinha

Interview with Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission

Ratan Kumar Sinha, who was director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, took over as chairman of Atomic Energy Commission and secretary of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) last week. His appointment comes at a time when India’s nuclear sector is facing challenges. Sinha, in an interview with Sanjay Jog, speaks on a number of issues. Edited excerpts:

What are your priorities?
The DAE’s programmes are well-defined. We are already progressing well on the stipulated growth path. In the near term, though, we’ll initiate more high-priority activities.

The first is to remove an irrational fear of radiation in the public mind. The common person tends to associate radiation with the catastrophe in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and is, hence, scared. Studies on the survivors of the two bombings (in Japan, 1945) and the persons exposed to radiation following the Chernobyl accident (1986) reveal consequences are far less harmful than what was postulated earlier. The nuclear plants, during their operation, contribute to hardly any additional radiation field to the environment and fulfil the conservative radiation limits stipulated by the regulatory authorities by remaining usually within two to three per cent of such limits at the plant boundary. We would educate the public and try to remove the unwarranted fear of radiation associated with nuclear plants.

I will also try to launch a programme to communicate, as well as implement the benefits of the DAE programmes, by involving non-governmental organisations and the local agricultural universities with good linkages with neighbouring rural population.

Also, we will develop indigenous PWRs (pressurised water reactor) of 700-Mw capacity, which would require less water. Safeguarded uranium could be used for these indigenous PWRs. The NPCIL has already prepared a concept design for indigenous 700-MW PWR.

However, the nuclear capacity addition faces the huge challenge of land acquisition...
Well, we are bound by certain prescribed rules for siting and land requirement for nuclear plants. Today, in most parts of our densely populated country, there is a problem of land acquisition — not only for nuclear but any other large industry. Some of the issues relate to meeting the expectations of the neighbouring population with regard to the compensation package that should be provided. We have also expanded the scope of our neighbourhood development programme, and that should help in providing early benefits to the neighbouring population around the nuclear power plants.

Besides, there has been opposition to the Kudankulam and Jaitapur nuclear projects. Opposition for nuclear plants is growing.
I recently visited Kudankulam (in downstate Tamil Nadu). I was very glad to see full support and positive feelings of the representatives of neighbouring villages in anticipation of the launch of the nuclear plant. The opposition is confined to a few sections of the neighbouring population; we will be able to overcome reservations in these communities by more intense interactions. I do not see any sustained constraints for the large growth of nuclear energy in our country.

Will you pursue launch of new research reactors during the 12th Plan?
We plan to launch a Dhruva-like research reactor with 125-Mw thermal power. Besides, a compact 30-Mw thermal, high-flux research reactor is planned for generating high-neutron flux needed for material irradiation. These reactors are expected to help in large-scale production of radioisotopes that have application in agriculture, food-processing, medicine, industrial uses and protection of environment through processing of municipal wastes. We plan to start the building of these two reactors by end of the 12th Plan (2017), and hope to commission these during the 13th Plan period.

How do you plan to exploit the potential for exports of Indian reactors of 220 Mw and 540 Mw?
We have proven technology and full indigenous capability for these reactors. There is a demand in some countries, with limited grid capacity, for small- and medium-sized reactors. We are the only country in the world today building and operating reactors of 220-Mw and 540-Mw capacity. Thus, we are in a strong position to offer such reactors for export.

Your views on the government’s move to establish the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority?
We already have an autonomous regulatory body — the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, which is already functionally independent. Upon establishing of the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority, our nuclear regulatory system will become ‘de jure’ independent.