NPCIL Experts, Please Respond !

QUESTIONS TO THE EXPERT COMMITTEE ON KUDANKULAM NUCLEAR PLANT BY THE PEOPLE

Prof. T. Shivaji Rao, Director, Center for Environmental Studies, GITAM University, Visakhapatnam

Readers can access some important articles by Prof. Rao here, here, here,here and here.

To know more about Prof. Shivaji rao, please click HERE.

1 (a) According to US Nuclear Regulatory Commission the standards of safety for Nuclear Power Plants require preparation of Environmental Assessment Report including Risk Analysis, Nuclear accident scenario, Emergency preparedness plans and Disaster management reports for nuclear accidents caused due to several reasons including terrorist attacks and security threats.  See here

(b) Have similar reports been prepared for the Kudankulam Nuclear plant by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India and the Union Government. If, yes, place the reports before the people for obtaining their consent?

2 (a) Environmental Impact Analysis and Emergency preparedness plans have to be prepared and circulated for a public hearing as per Environmental Protection Act regulationsand guidelines issued by the National Disaster Management organization under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister of India?

(b) Did the Kudankulam nuclear plant authorities prepare such environmental Impact Assessment reports as per the rules of the Environmental Protection Act, 1986 and submitted the detailed reports, the damaging impacts of the proposed nuclear plant on the environment including the risk analysis ,nuclear plant accident scenario, Emergency preparedness plans and presentthem for a public hearing as per rules and taken the consent of the people likely to be effected by the emissions of pollutants from the plant during its routine operations and also due to a maximum credible accident caused by several reasons including internal sabotage, earthquakes, cyclones, terrorist attacks, aeroplane crashes or other hazards like Tsunamis and flooding?

3 (a) Is it not a fact that for the maximum credible anticipated nuclear accidents the US Regulatory commission prepares the emergency planning zones for 2 regions namely Plume Exposure Pathways (EPZ-I) zones covering a distance upto 16km downwind of the nuclear power plant. Predetermined protective action plans are in place for this EPZ and are designed to avoid or reduce dose from potential exposure of radioactive materials. These actions include sheltering, evacuation, and the use of potassium iodide where appropriate .

The second zone, known as the ingestion exposure pathway (EPZ-II) zone covering a distance upto 50miles or 80km from the Nuclear plant. Predetermined protective action plans are in place for this EPZ and are designed to avoid or reduce dose from potential ingestion of radioactive materials. These actions include a ban of contaminated food and water.  See here.

(b) Have such emergency planning zones prepared for nuclear accidents in USA are being implemented for the nuclear plant at Kudankulam? Such plans are essential for the public health and Environmental Protection standards in India and have to be more stringent for Indian people than even for the Americans who have with better nutritional and health standards.