Lok Sabha Question No. 2923 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Safety Audit of Atomic Power Plants
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: SAUGATA ROY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2923

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2016

## SAFETY AUDIT OF ATOMIC POWER PLANTS

2923.  PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering to carry out a safety audit of all atomic power plants in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is also considering to conduct a survey in the areas around atomic plants to understand the health and environmental implications; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the alternative measures put in place in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b)  Yes, Sir. Periodic safety audit of all atomic power plants in India is carried out  by  the  Atomic  Energy  Regulatory  Board  (AERB).  All  Nuclear  Power Projects  (NPP)  undergo  an  elaborate  in-depth  safety  review  during  all stages, viz. siting, construction, commissioning  and  operation. After satisfactory review during project stage, AERB issues operating licence to an  NPP  for  a  period  of  five  years.  During  the  licence  period,  safety performance of an operational NPP  is continuously monitored for compliance with regulatory guidelines. A consolidated safety assessment of the plant is undertaken while renewing the operating licence after every five years. During the project stage of a power plant, quarterly regulatory inspections and during operation of a power plant, regulatory inspections are  carried  out  by  AERB  once  every  six  months.  Further,  all  plants  are required to undergo a comprehensive Periodic Review (PSR) as per the established guidelines, where the safety of the plant is assessed

considering  cumulative  effects  of  ageing,  plant  modifications,  operating experience as well as comparison with the current safety standards/practices.

- (c) & (d)  An independent Environmental Survey Laboratory (ESL) set up at each of the  nuclear  power  plant  site  several  years  before  setting  up  of  the  plant, regularly  analyses  environmental matrices  like  air,  water,  soil,  vegetation, crops, milk, fish, etc. around  each of  the nuclear  power  plant  (NPP)  site. For all Nuclear Power  Plants in the country, environmental impact assessments  are  carried  out  from  both  radiological  and  non-radiological (conventional) safety considerations. These assessments are reviewed by AERB  and  Ministry  of  Environment  and  Forests  (MoEF)  before  the necessary siting and environmental clearances to set up the NPP are given by AERB and MoEF, respectively.

Epidemiological  surveys  for  health  assessment  in  respect  of  employees working in close proximity of radiation and staying in the nearby residential complex and villages of each of the nuclear power plants in operation have been carried out by reputed local medical colleges and analysis has been carried  out  by  Tata  Memorial  Hospital  (TMH),  Mumbai,  a  premier  cancer research  centre  in  the  country.  In  addition,  annual  medical  checkups  are carried out for all occupational workers regularly.

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