(a) whether any study has been made by the Government with regard to cost effectiveness and the health hazards from the nuclear power plants vis-à-vis renewable sources of energy like solar, wind, etc.;
(b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the action taken by the Government thereon?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR.JITENDRA SINGH):
(a)&(b) Nuclear power is a base load source of electricity generation (available 24X7). The renewable energy sources like solar, wind etc are intermittent and also location specific. A detailed analysis of the economic viability of each nuclear power project is carried out as a part of the project proposal while seeking project financial sanction from the Government. The tariffs of nuclear power are competitive to other base load technologies for generation of electricity in the region.
An independent Environmental Survey Laboratory (ESL) is set up at each of the nuclear power plant site several years before setting up of the plant, which regularly analyses environmental matrices like air, water, soil, vegetation, crops, milk, fish, etc. around each of the nuclear power plant (NPP) site. The data collected, over the years, has established that there is negligible change in radioactivity and radiation levels in the environment / environmental matrices due to operation of the nuclear power plants.
In addition, epidemiological survey for heath assessment in respect of employees working in the nuclear power plants and their families, who stay in the nearby township and villages, have been carried out for the nuclear power plant sites by reputed local medical colleges and the analysis has been carried out by Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, the premier cancer research centre of the country. All these studies have established that there are no adverse effects of the operation of the nuclear power plants on the people living in and around the plants.
(c) Does not arise.
(d) Nuclear power is clean with lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions comparable to renewables and has huge potential which can provide long term energy security to the country in a sustainable manner. In view of this, as a long term plan, nuclear power is pursued.
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