Why the nuclear safety issue was in news?

• Kakrapar (Surat district) nuclear power plant faced leakage of heavy water coolant and the fear of radioactive contamination. 

• It coincided with 5th anniversary of Fukushima disaster where meltdown of the nuclear core happened due to failure of cooling system.

• Such incidences raise the issue of nuclear safety.

What is Nuclear safety?

Nuclear Safety is defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as "The achievement of proper operating conditions, prevention of accidents or mitigation of accident consequences, resulting in protection of workers, the public and the environment from undue radiation hazards”

Nuclear safety therefore covers: -

• Safe management fissionable materials (Extraction, transportation, storage, processing, and disposal)

• Safety of nuclear power generators

• Control and safe management of nuclear weapons, nuclear material capable of use as a weapon, and other radioactive materials

• Safe handling, accountability and use in industrial, medical and research contexts

•  Disposal of nuclear waste

•  Limitations on exposure to radiation

What is the Safety framework in nuclear power plants in India?

        A. Regulatory framework: 

• Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), an independent agency to frame the policies, lays down safety standards and requirements and monitors and enforces all the safety provisions (stage wise licensing).

• The Atomic Energy (radiation protection) Rules, 2004, form the basis of regulatory control activities related to radiation protection.

• India has highly equipped nuclear plants with full safe shutdown system, early warning systems, combination of active and passive coolant system and robust containment to prevent releases. 

• Air contamination limits and human exposure limits are defined and continuously monitored.

• It has mechanism to withstand extreme weather phenomena. 

• Coastal plants have appropriate bunds to prevent shoreline pollution. 

• They are highly protected sites by our intelligence and armed forces. 

• All Indian plants have double dome built-up.

        B. Radioactive waste management method:

• Method of disposal and monitoring

• Gaseous wastes from reactor buildings are filtered using pre-filters and high-efficiency particulate air filters

• The radioactive liquid wastes generated in a NPP are diluted and then  segregated, filtered and conditioned 

• The radioactive solid wastes are disposed off in brick-lined earthen trenches, Re-enforced cement concrete (RCC) vaults or tile holes

• Vitrification - for safe waste management. Vitrified waste is stored in a specially designed solid storage surveillance facility for about 30 yrs prior to its disposal in deep geological formation

• Joule meter technology - for high level wastes

• Robots (MOBSCAN, ROHYTAM, ROPMAN) used for handling nuclear wastes and fissile material management

          C. Emergency preparedness framework

All NPPs have both on-site and off-site emergency plans to meet any such situation.

•  “The Disaster Management Act, 2005”, provides for the effective management of disasters, including accidents involving NPPs

•  Zoning concept and emergency planning: In India, a NPP is generally sited in a relatively low-population zone,
       
       •  Exclusion zone: Exclusion radius of 1.5 km around the plant

       • Sterilized zone: of a radius 5 km around the plant (potential of maximum extensive contamination)- developmental activities are controlled in this area

       • Emergency planning zone: 16-km radius and provides for the basic geographical framework for decision making on implementing measures as part of a graded response in the event of an off-site emergency

       • The emergency measures consist of emergency actions in respect of notification, alerting personnel, assessment of situation, corrective actions,mitigation, protection and control of contamination

What are the major issues in nuclear safety management?

1.  Legal status of the AERB: According to the CAG the legal status of the AERB continued to be that of an authority subordinate to the Central Government, with powers delegated to it by the latter.

2.  Without the legal status, the AERB neither has the authority for framing or revising rules relating to nuclear and radiation safety nor can it decide on the quantum of penalties leave alone imposing them

3.  Inadequate emergency preparedness: The CAG report highlighted the inadequate emergency preparedness to deal with situations involving radiological effects from a nuclear power plant which may extend to public areas

4. Location & site clearance: Given the issues of land acquisition and environment clearances, the location of NPP sometimes poses danger. It was found that the approach road to the plant site of Tarapur Atomic Power Station was highly congested, which would pose serious problems in dealing with any future emergency

5. Issues over compensation clause in Nuclear Liability Act: The controversy over “supplier’s liability “has raised doubts over the compensation in case of a nuclear disaster (given the poor record of India in post Industrial disaster management. E.g. Union Carbide case)

What are the suggestions of CAG over the issue? 

1. As CAG suggested there is an urgent need for the government to bolster the status of AERB if it was to qualify as an independent regulator in a sector which was likely to become increasingly important in meeting the country's energy need

2. Better coordination with IAEA  and other nuclear power countries to avail latest technology to minimize risk of any accident

3. No Compromise in selecting the most geologically stable site and planning of the site to ensure highest level of safety

4. Greater awareness building among the local community (preferably in local language) about the risks, benefits and appropriate  safety infrastructure at place, to remove alienation, fear and misconceptions.

5. More use of technologies like UAV, and atmospheric composition analyzer and efficient alarming  devices .Frequent mock drills can be arranged

6. Promoting Private or PSU companies to use nuclear waste for electricity generation so that over or unnecessary disposal can be minimized

7. Enhancement of the level of safety of the backup systems in reactors that are under construction in India

Conclusion

As India gears up to increase the share of nuclear power capacity  from the current 5,780 MW to 10,080 MW by the end of the Twelfth Plan (2017) and 20,000 MW by 2020, Extreme caution and highest safety  standards have to be adhered to with continuous upgradation to avoid any type of nuclear accident(small or big) and generate confidence among people.