(a) whether there is a leakage of radioactive waste from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) into
Thane Creek and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has taken any steps to curtail such leakage and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has made any study to assess the impact of radioactive waste leakage on
environment and health and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the action taken/proposed to be taken in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY) :
(a) Sir, there is no leakage of radioactive waste in the Thane Creek from BARC facilities at Trombay.
All effluents are treated to bring their radiation levels well below the stringent regulatory limits set
by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) before they are discharged from the BARC facilities to the
Thane Creek.
(b) Does not arise in view of (a) above.
(c) An environmental surveillance programme is carried out regularly at Thane creek for the measurement
of various man-made radionuclides in different matrices like water, biota and sediment. From the analysis,
it is observed that the levels of radioactivity in Thane creek are practically the same as that of natural
background. Hence, there is no hazard to the health of general public and to the environment due to the
discharges from BARC facilities.
(d) Does not arise in view of (c) above.