India’s nuclear power safety problems are getting worse

Admitting problems, the federal Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has said there could be a delay in the two projects.
Meanwhile, the state government of West Bengal state has refused permission to a proposed 6000 MW facility near the town of Haripur that intended to host six Russian reactors. ..

activists and experts have called for an audit by an independent body. They say that given the non-transparent nature of India’s state-controlled nuclear energy sector – there is no way to estimate whether safety issues will be carefully followed

India’s Rising Nuclear safety Concerns , Asia Sentinel, Siddharth Srivastava, 27 Oct 11, Concerns about safety of nuclear power plants (NPPs) are threateningIndia’s massive investment plans in the sector..

Post the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan populations around proposed Indian NPP sites have launched protests that are now finding resonance around the country, raising questions about atomic energy as a clean and safe alternative to fossil fuels.

Although Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the main architect of India’s nuclear program, has repeatedly assured over the last few months that all safety measures will be implemented, many are not buying his arguments.Locals also have issues about land acquisition rates and suspect rehabilitation promises of the government. There have thus been mass protests against the French-backed 9900-MW Jaitapur plant in Maharashtra and the 2000-MW Koodankulam NPP in Tamil Nadu.

Admitting problems, the federal Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has said there could be a delay in the two projects.
Meanwhile, the state government of West Bengal state has refused permission to a proposed 6000 MW facility near the town of Haripur that intended to host six Russian reactors. Last month, farmers in Haryana violently protested against the setting up of a proposed NPP in the state.India’s Rising Nuclear Safety Concerns, Asia Sentinel, by Siddharth Srivastava 27 Oct 11, Concerns about safety of nuclear power plants (NPPs) are threateningIndia’s massive investment plans in the sector…

Admitting problems, the federal Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has said there could be a delay in the two projects.

Further complicating matters, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed against the government’s civil nuclear program at the apex Supreme Court. The PIL specifically asks for the “staying of all proposed nuclear power plants till satisfactory safety measures and cost-benefit analyses are completed by independent agencies.’’……

Concerns Mount

However, concerns about safety of atomic plants following the Fukushimameltdown and land acquisition issues continue to hamper progress.

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, the top government agency to ensure safety standards, conducted a safety audit of India’s NPPs a couple of months back. Despite all clear certificates, activists and experts have called for an audit by an independent body.

They say that given the non-transparent nature of India’s state-controlled nuclear energy sector – there is no way to estimate whether safety issues will be carefully followed

http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3889&Itemid=614

It is likely that the court will take up the matter for further hearing given the importance of the matter. Given India’s high population density an accident could be a calamity as happened following the Bhopal gas tragedy in 1984.

India has announced plans to raise nuclear power from current 3% total power generated to 25% by 2050. By 2032 India’s nuclear power capacity has been targeted at 63,000 MW from current 4,500MW.

Speaking to TV reporters, S P Udhayakumar, a prominent anti-nuclear activist said, “All over the world people are phasing out or canceling nuclear power plants. Electricity should be for the people. It cannot be at the cost of the people.”

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