Lok Sabha Question No. 18 (STARRED), answered on 2016-02-24
Subject: Safety of Nuclear Power Plants
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: SHASHI THAROOR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.18

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.02.2016

## SAFETY OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

- *18. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the nuclear power capacity of India is expected to reach 10080 MW by the year 2018-19 and further expand to three times the present capacity by the year 2024;
- (b) if  so  the  details  thereof,  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  a legislation  for  establishing  a  Nuclear  Safety  Regulatory  Authority  so  as  to ensure that the quality and standard of nuclear safekeeping is not compromised; and
- (c) 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) to (c)   A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION NO.18  BY  DR.  SHASHI  THAROOR,  FOR  ANSWER  ON  24.02.2016,  REGARDING 'SAFETY OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS.'

- (a) Yes Sir.
- (b)&(c)  The  Government  had  in  July  2014,  announced  a  target  of  tripling  the  then capacity of 4780 MW in next ten years (by the year 2024).

The current installed nuclear power capacity is 5780 MW, which is expected to increase to 10080 MW on progressive completion of following projects under commissioning/construction by 2019:

| Location & State                          | Unit                                                  | Capacity (MW)   |
|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
| Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu                    | Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project-2 (KKNPP 2)          | 1000 (1000 x1)  |
| Rawatbhata, Rajasthan                     | Rajasthan Atomic Power Project Units 7&8 (RAPP 7 & 8) | 1400 (700 x 2)  |
| Kakrapar, Gujarat                         | Kakrapar Atomic Power Project Units 3&4 (KAPP 3 & 4)  | 1400 (700 x 2)  |
| Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu                     | Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR)                 | 500 (500 X1)    |
| Total                                     | Total                                                 | 4300            |
| Existing installed nuclear power capacity | Existing installed nuclear power capacity             | 5780            |
| Total                                     | Total                                                 | 10080           |

In addition, the Government has accorded sanction for two more projects with a total capacity of 3400 MW.

## Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority

In  order  to  give  statutory  strength  to  our  national  nuclear  regulator  -  Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and to convert its functional independence into  de  jure  independence,  the  proposal  for  setting  up  a  Nuclear  Safety Regulatory Authority has been under consideration. Accordingly, Government had introduced the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority Bill, 2011 (NSRA) in the  Lok  Sabha  in  September  2011.  The  Bill  could  not  be  taken  up  for consideration before the dissolution of 15th Lok Sabha and expired. A fresh Bill is under examination.

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