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Hyderabad , Nov. 7

THE Rs 507-crore uranium mining-cum-benefaction plant proposed by the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd in Andhra Pradesh is safe in all aspects and is awaiting the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Pollution Control Board (PCB) nod to take up the work on the project.

Allaying concerns about the safety of the proposed project in the Nalgonda district, the Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Dr Anil Kakodkar, said this is an important project in the country's ongoing nuclear power plans. The country will eventually see the establishment of about 20,000 MW of power generating capacity and be about 25 per cent of the total installed capacity in the country as against three per cent now.

Brushing aside fears expressed by certain NGOs and local people about the safety of the people and the potential of environmental hazard such a project could cause to the ecosystem, Dr Kakodkar said the region around such plants is safe. "Uranium is an important source for our nuclear plans and this UCIL project fits strategically in the country's perspective plans. Some of the concerns and fear expressed are unfounded. You may see the track record of the country's nuclear power plants, which reflects the high standards we have set for ourselves. We constantly seek to surpass those high standards," he said.

"We have completed the mandatory public hearing necessary for such projects and are awaiting clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The PCB is currently examining the project. Once we receive the necessary clearances, we will be able to take up mining and extraction and benefaction work," Mr Gupta, Managing Director of UCIL, said.

While the Government has planned to establish nuclear power generation capacity of 20,000 MW by 2020, in the medium term, we plan to increase it by about one and a half times the current capacity. By 2007, we will be able to complete eight of the nine projects, which will have a total installed capacity of 4500 MW. This will see an investment of about Rs 25,000 crore at about Rs 5 crore per MW, Dr Kakodkar said.

Of the nine proposed nuclear power plants, six will be heavy water plants, two light water plants and one a fast breeder reactor. Since the last one has been initiated lately, this will be ready by about 2010-11.

Earlier, Dr Kakodkar, speaking at the three-day meet on safety at the Nuclear Fuel Complex, said that human sensitivity was necessary to keep pace with the changing requirements of safety in nuclear establishments. For instance, while there is abundant data on general safety norms, we need to have information on radiation safety norms and comparative data.

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