Lok Sabha Question No. 393 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-29
Subject: Disposal of Nuclear Waste
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: PARASURAMAN K., RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*393

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.03.2017

## DISPOSAL OF NUCLEAR WASTE

- *393.  SHRI K. PARASURAMAN: SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the quantum of nuclear waste generated by the Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) during each of the last three years, NPP-wise along with the mechanism put in place to safely dispose of such waste;
- (b) whether  an  environmental  assessment  has  been  carried  out  for  sites  being used for the disposal of such waste and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the extent to which the technology deployed for the said purpose is effective and  efficient  along  with  the  details  of  the  environmental  impact,  if  any, identified;
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  build  deep  geological  repository  for storing  nuclear  waste  using  latest  technology  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof including the specifics of the support, if any, received / being received from foreign countries; and
- (e) the time by which the said facility is likely to be operational?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  PERSONNEL,  PUBLIC  GRIEVANCES  & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH) :

- (a) to (e)     A statement is placed on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *393 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 29.03.2017 BY SHRI K. PARASURAMAN AND SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA  REGARDING 'DISPOSAL OF NUCLEAR WASTE'.

- a ( ) The quantity of low and intermediate level waste to be stored at the site  is about    0.15  cubic  meters/year/MW.    A  comprehensive  radioactive  waste management  system  is  established  taking  into  account  the  operational capability under the supervision of an independent regulatory agency. The radioactive  solid  wastes  generated  during  operation  and  maintenance  of nuclear  power  plants  are  segregated  and  volume  reduced  prior  to  its disposal. Disposal of waste is carried out in specially constructed structures such  as  stone  lined  trenches,  reinforced  concrete  trenches  and  tile  holes. These disposal systems are designed on multi-barrier principle for ensuring effective containment of radioactivity. The areas where the disposal structures are located are kept under constant surveillance with the help of bore-wells  laid  out  in  a  planned  manner.  This  policy  is  on  par  with international  practices  following  the  guidelines  of  International  Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
- (b) A comprehensive environmental assessment, following international practices and  guidelines  from  International  Atomic  Energy  Agency,  is  done  prior  to siting of nuclear installation including waste  disposal  facility. It covers assessment  of  air  quality,  rainfall  data,  ground  water  quality,  vegetation details, flora and  fauna, population density etc. together with detailed investigation  on  soil  and  rock  strata.  Nuclear  power  projects  require  prior environmental  clearance  from  Ministry  of  Environment  Protection  Act  1986 and  the  rules  made  there  under.  As  a  part  of  obtaining  the  environmental clearance, environment impact assessment is carried out. Additionally, AERB grants clearance to nuclear power  plant site after reviewing potential radiological impacts, including nuclear waste disposal facility.
- (c) The mechanism used is  very  effective  and  efficient.  The  areas,  where  the disposal structures are located, are kept under constant surveillance with the help of bore-wells laid out in a planned manner. The underground soil and water  samples  from  these  bore  wells  are  routinely      monitored      and      to confirm effective confinement of radioactivity present in the disposed waste.

Till date the surveillance of the disposal areas at different sites has confirmed the high degree of effectiveness of the disposal system for the containment of the disposed wastes. There has been no incident of release of radioactivity from such disposed wastes. No effect of radiation from the disposed wastes on the public or the environment has been observed.

- (d)        Closed  nuclear  fuel  cycle  is  being  followed  in  India,  where,  spent  fuel  is reprocessed and most of the component of spent fuel is recycled back as a fuel for future reactors Main fission products like Cs-137 & Sr-90 present in the  waste  are  recovered  using  in  house  developed  technologies  and deployed  for  societal  applications  covering  medical  applications,  external irradiators and other medical applications.  This is accomplished first time in the  world  by  India,  where  radioactive  waste  is  regarded  as  a  useful  byproduct.  Considering  the  level  of  waste  generation  and  the  technological innovation  there  is  no  requirement  of  repository  in  the  near  future.  The programme for India's nuclear  waste management/disposal is based on totally indigenous developed technology following international norms/guidelines.
- (e) With the advent of new technologies based on partitioning of waste, where long - lived radioactive waste constituents are separated prior to immobilizing in  glass  matrices,  the  need  of  geological  disposal  facility  will  not  be  there before the year 2075.

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