Lok Sabha Question No. 414 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority Bill, 2011
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Rao Rajendra Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION- 414

ANSWERED ON 27/11/2024

## NUCLEAR SAFETY REGULATORY AUTHORITY BILL, 2011

## 414.  SHRI RAO RAJENDRA SINGH

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- a) whether  the  Government  has  made  progress  on  framing  the  Nuclear  Safety  and Regulation Bill, 2011 after incorporating several rounds of recommendations from the respective Standing Committee, if so, whether there is any timeline within which it seeks to achieve the same and if not, the reasons therefor;
- b) whether the Government has a well-defined nuclear safety radiation policy framework as envisaged by the AERB constitution of 1983, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- c) whether the Government has taken into account the recommendations of the CAG Report which talked about several discrepancies present in the operation of nuclear power plants, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- d) whether the Government has any timeline within which work on the Unit 7&8 of the Rajasthan  Atomic  Power  Station  (Rawatbhata)  will  be  finished  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) A  Bill  titled  'The  Nuclear  Safety  Regulatory  Authority  (NSRA)  Bill,  2011'  was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 7 September 2011. However, the Bill along with its official amendments could not be taken up for consideration by the 15 th Lok Sabha due to  its  dissolution.  Subsequently,  a  Note  for  Cabinet  on  NSRA  Bill,  2015  which  is essentially the NSRA Bill, 2011 along with official amendments had been submitted to Cabinet  Secretariat  for  Cabinet  approval  after  fresh  inter-ministerial  consultations. However, the Committee of Secretaries advised the Department to re-examine the Bill. The Department, thus, constituted a Committee for re-examination and withdrew the Cabinet Note seeking approval for introduction of NSRA Bill, 2015.

Since  the  new  NSRA  Bill  is  not  even  in  its  preliminary  shape  and  due  to  multiple formalities  and  inter-ministerial  consultations  involved  in  a  legislation,  the  timeline when it would be re-introduced in Parliament cannot be specified.

- (b) Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is mandated to frame safety policies, lay down safety  standards  &  requirements,  grant  consent  for  all  stages  and  monitor  & enforce provisions under the Act and the Rules thereof, in nuclear installations and to enforce  nuclear  security  aspects.  As  envisaged  in  the  constitution  order  in  1983  of AERB, the elements of nuclear and radiation safety polices were enshrined in various Safety Codes and Standards issued by the AERB. These were consolidated and issued as a separate policy document called "Policies Governing Regulation of Nuclear and Radiation Safety" in July 2014 and is available on AERB's website.
- (c) With respect to  the  recommendations of  Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India  pertaining  to  compliance  of  high-level  safety  committee  recommendations regarding  operation  of  Nuclear  Power  Plants  (NPPs),  the  action  taken  report  was submitted to CAG by AERB. These recommendations are targeted for enchaining safety and performance of operating NPPs. These are in addition to the essential regulatory requirements and licensing conditions and do not compromise safety. The progress of compliance to these recommendations is closely monitored by AERB.
- (d) Unit-7  of  Rajasthan  Atomic  Power  Project  Units  7&8  (2  x  700  MW)  has  already achieved its first criticality on September 19, 2024 and is expected to be completed by January, 2025. Unit-8 is expected to be completed by January, 2026.

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