THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH):
(a) During the Sixth Review Meeting of Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) at Vienna during March 24 to April 4, 2014, India’s National Report on safety status of its nuclear power plant and its nuclear safety review and regulatory system was presented. This included the highlights of recent safety enhancements in Indian nuclear power plants (NPPs) following the Fukushima accident in Japan, and our system of safety reviews and licensing of NPPs which re-assess the safety of the plant against latest safety standards and practices. The rigorous periodic safety review carried out for the Indian NPPs as a part of AERB’s licensing process, covering all the safety aspects and considering latest technical information, was seen as a noteworthy practice leading to continuous upgradation in safety.
(b)&(c) Yes Sir. The safety system of nuclear power plants in India is governed and enforced in accordance with the requirements prescribed by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board in its Safety Codes, Safety Guides and Safety Manuals. These requirements of AERB are in line with the Safety Standards of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other international bodies such as International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).
(d) Persons working in the mines are provided with personal protective equipment and uniforms. Facilities of washing uniform and bathing have been provided in each unit. Adequate ventilation is provided in the underground mines. Mining equipment manufactured by reputed international agencies with inbuilt engineering protection for the operator and environment have been deployed for the mining work. Engineering safety measures stipulated by Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) are adhered to strictly. Licence for mining as well as milling operations is issued by AERB only after confirming that the operations will not cause any adverse effect on the workers, the public and the environment. Separate limits are prescribed for radioactive waste discharges and periodic inspections are carried out to verify conformance with the prescribed safety stipulations and regulatory norms.
(e) In order to have a systematic and effective monitoring system for the protection of workers employed, public, and environment, a full-fledged and well equipped Health Physics Unit-cum-Environmental Survey Laboratory (HPU/ESL) of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is in operation at each centre. Well qualified scientist and trained professionals in the field of radiological protection regularly carry out monitoring and maintain constant surveillance on the environmental releases.
(f) The health of all the uranium mine and mill workers is monitored periodically as per the provisions of the Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004 and reported to AERB in prescribed forms. No adverse effect on the health of the workers has been observed which can be attributed to exposure from ionizing radiation or from radioactive wastes.
(g) No Sir. However, the Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a Public Sector Undertaking under Department of Atomic Energy, is implementing the guidelines and directives on health care and radiation protection of the people in the operating areas of IREL plants, as prescribed by the AERB. Further, IREL is also providing similar coverage, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Scheme, to people residing within 10 Km distance from its plants. Kollam and Alappuzha are not within this distance zone.
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