DAE signed pact with BAEC to help with Rooppur project: Govt

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has signed an agreement with the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) to extend technical support for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project (RNPP) in the neighbouring country, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
Minister of State Jitrendra Singh said in a written reply that he DAE has signed the agreement with the BAEC through its Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) to extend technical/consultancy and capacity building support for the RNPP being set up with Russian collaboration.
To a separate question, he said the government had formulated a scheme aimed at detection, interception, interdiction, prevention, preparedness and response to mitigate consequences for unauthorised entry of radioactive material.

Singh added that the government had set up an institutional mechanism under the DAE at the national-level named as Counter Nuclear Smuggling Team (CNST).
"The DAE has also developed Emergency Response Centers (DAE-ERCs) for technical expertise and advice on using radiation detection, usage of instruments and systems, analysis of results of radiological survey, formulating detection and response to nuclear/radiological, including emergencies in public domain," he said.
He said a total of 23 DAE-ERCs are operational at various sites of the DAE across India.
The minister also said radiation monitoring gadgets were installed at entry points which would be useful in detection, interception, interdiction, prevention of smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive material across land crossings, borders, airport, seaport and all entry points.

"The Ministry of Home Affairs /National Disaster Management Authority have selected 56 major cities/vulnerable locations and 900 police stations for installation of these equipment," he added.