Lok Sabha Question No. 1840 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-04
Subject: Safety on Nuclear Power Plants
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: P. KARUNAKARAN, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA, FEROZE VARUN GANDHI, V. SATHYABAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1840 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.05.2016

## SAFETY ON NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

1840.  SHRI PR. SENTHIL NATHAN: SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA: SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI: SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the  measures taken to ensure the safety and security of the nuclear power plants in the country, plant-wise;
- (b) the details of mechanism put in place to monitor the safety parameters of all the nuclear plants in the country;
- (c) whether  protection  measures  are  reviewed  and  retested  on  regular  basis under different technical parameters keeping in view the geographic location of the nuclear plants in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  Nuclear  Power  Corporation  of  India  Limited  (NPCIL)  and  Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) have planned to allocate any funds for the security  and  surveillance  to  install  Perimeter  Detection  Solutions  CCTV camera,  Biometric  surveillance  gadgets  and  surveillance  system  for  all  the nuclear/atomic power plants in the country; and
- (e) 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) In all nuclear power plants, safety is accorded utmost priority in all phases of siting,  design,  construction,  commissioning  and  operation.  A  systematic approach using well-defined principles is followed in the design of the nuclear power  plants  to  provide  the  required  safety  features  adopting  principles  of defence-in-depth,  diversity  and  redundancy.  Nuclear  Power  Plants  are constructed  in  accordance  with  the  design  intent  and  with  strict  quality standards. The operations are performed strictly in accordance with laid out

procedures  by  highly  trained  and  licensed  personnel.  There  is  a  robust regulatory  mechanism  in  place  and  periodic  safety  reviews  are  carried  out both by NPCIL and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).

As  far  as  security  is  concerned,  nuclear  installations  are  provided  with multilayer security arrangements and are under security cover of the Central Industrial  Security  Force  and  other  security  agencies  in  the  country  with additional manpower and equipment, whenever necessary. Integrated security systems including Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS) and other electronic surveillance systems are in place at all nuclear power plants in  the  country.  These  security  arrangements  are  reviewed  and  updated periodically  based  on  various  inputs  received  from  Central  and  State Agencies.

- (b) All the safety and other plant parameters are monitored in the control room of nuclear  power  plants  continuously.  The  parameters  are  also  physically monitored  at  respective  locations.  The  safety  functions  can  be  performed from supplementary control room in the unlikely event of the control room not being accessible in case of an emergency.
- (c) Yes, Sir. The various safety features are periodically tested as per laid down procedures and in line with technical specifications. Periodic safety reviews are also conducted by the regulatory authority, AERB.
- (d)&(e) Yes, Sir.  Adequate funds have been allocated for installation, upgradation and  maintenance  of  various  surveillance  equipment  and  other  security measures at all the nuclear power plant sites.

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