Lok Sabha Question No. 1348 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Nuclear Power Station
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1348 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2018

## NUCLEAR POWER STATION

1348.  SHRI ARVIND SAWANT:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  is a strong opposition  to  the installation of  Nuclear Power Stations  at  Jaitapur and  if  so, the details thereof  and the reasons therefor;
- (b) the present status of the said project;
- (c) whether  some of  the European  countries  have  closed  down  the nuclear power  projects  in  their  countries  and  if  so,  the  details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (d) whether    the  Government    proposes  to  review  the  installation  of  the  said project    in  view  of    the    closure    of    the    nuclear    projects    in  European countries  and  if so, the  details  thereof  and  if not,  the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) There have been sporadic protests by a section of the locals against setting up  of  the  nuclear  power  plant  at  Jaitapur.  Groups  ideologically  opposed  to nuclear  power  have  also  protested  against  the  project. The  protests  have mainly  been  on  account  of  issues  related  to  Rehabilitation,  apprehensions about safety of the plant and loss of traditional means of livelihood.
- (b) The current status of Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP) is as follows:
- (i) Land for the project and residential township has been acquired.
- (ii)    Agreement for Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) package has been signed between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) and the State Government, and is being implemented.

- (iii)      Statutory Environmental and Costal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances have been obtained from MoEF&CC.
- (iv) Site  infrastructure  and  technology  independent  site  investigation  works are in progress at various stages.
- (v) Discussions of NPCIL with EDF on Techno-Commercial Proposal (TCP) for setting up 6 EPR units to arrive at a project proposal, in line with the Industrial Way Forward Agreement (IWFA) are in progress.
- (vi) Neighbourhood welfare and Public Awareness activities are in progress.
- (c) In the aftermath of the Fukushima accident in 2011, Germany had shutdown 8 nuclear power reactors that had completed their economic life and announced a plan for gradual phase out of the remaining 9 by 2022. Switzerland had also announced a gradual phase out of nuclear power. These decisions are country specific and depend on factors like the country's nuclear and energy policies, requirements,  availability  of  various  energy  options,  market  conditions  etc. However, most countries with nuclear power programmes are continuing with their programmes. At present there are 453 reactors in operation (including 7 in  Germany)  and  57  reactors  under  construction  in  the  world.  Several  new entrants  like  Bangladesh,  UAE,  Belarus,  Turkey  have  embarked  on  nuclear power.  It may be also mentioned that Japan has also started operating eight reactors which were shutdown following the accident.
- (d) No,  Sir.  Nuclear  power  is  clean  and  carbon  free  energy  with  huge  potential that  can  provide  the  country  long  term  energy  security  in  a  sustainable manner. Considering the huge and growing electricity demand of the country, nuclear power projects including Jaitapur will therefore be pursued.

*****