AERB can prescribe guidelines on safety manuals: Par panel

Slamming the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for not having a decommissioning plan for Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) in the country, a Parliamentary panel today said with absence of a legislative framework, the regulatory body could only prescribe guidelines on safety manuals.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in its report tabled in Lok Sabha today observed that even after 13 years from the issue of safety manuals relating to the decomissioning of NPP by AERB, none of the NPPs had a decommissioning plan.
Some of these NPPs have been in operation for 30 years, while a few have been shut down.

The AERB plays an important role in monitoring the nuclear activities in the country that ranges from granting permissions to start a NPP as its clearances are required to be sought at different stages.
The panel also observed that although "the AERB maintained liaisons with international nuclear organisations, it was slow in adopting international benchmarks and good practises in the areas of nuclear and radiation operation."
It further stated that the AERB had not availed the opportunity of the peer review and apraisal services of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to get its regulatory framework and its effectiveness reviewed by them.