Tighter security at N-plants

More CCTV surveillance and tighter security norms are likely to prevail in nuclear installations across India after “an act of mischief” in the Kaiga nuclear plant in Karnataka, almost 500 km from Bangalore, left 50 scientists exposed to radiation.

According to initial probe reports submitted to the UPA government, the drinking water in a cooler was deliberately contaminated with water sample from the reactor. “We never thought we would need to put even water coolers under the surveillance of CCTV. But this incident is an eye opener. We would review the security arrangements and bring more areas under CCTV coverage,” said an official in the Department of Atomic Energy. The cooler was kept in a passage inside the laboratory.

Prithviraj Chavan, minister of state in charge of atomic energy, told reporters today that they are suspecting a scientist behind this mischief. “The man knew exactly what he was doing. He didn’t want to fatally harm his colleagues. His intention was just to create a panic and he was successful.”

Chavan also said the probe was going on and some people had been interrogated. “We have zeroed in on the people who had access to that area. We have also zeroed in the time when the incident might have taken place. Soon we will be able to know who all are behind this incident,” he said.

S K Jain, chairman and managing director, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) that runs all the 17 nuclear power plants in the country, has ruled out any violation of the operating procedures or radioactivity releases or security breach.

Every day 20 to 40 ml of water discharge from the reactor is tasted in the laboratory to check the hydrogen content. The top bosses of NPCIL are suspecting that one such sample was mixed with the drinking water, probably by some disgruntled element in the plant.