Department of Atomic Energy prepares proposal to build twelve nuclear reactors

A proposal has been prepared by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in order to build 12 nuclear reactors and improve power generation in the country. In a written response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office said, of the 12, 10 reactors will be indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) while the other two will be Light Water Reactors (LWRs) of Kundakulam units 5 and 6 of 1,000 MW each.

The DAE comes under the PMO. "These are presently under consideration of thegovernment for accord of administrative approval and financialsanction," Singh said.

In reference to Kavali in Andhra Pradesh, the proposed site of a nuclear power park earmarked for Russian companies, Singh said some sections of locals and certain groups have expressed apprehensions about safety of the nuclear power plants and loss of their traditional means of livelihood.

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He said, an extensive public outreach programme to spread awareness about the nuclear power has been instituted. "At present, the Site Selection Committee of thegovernment is exploring the possibility of identifying asuitable coastal site in Andhra Pradesh for locating nuclearpower plants with Russian cooperation.

"The government of Andhra Pradesh had given its consent to carry out technical studies required to identify potentialcoastal sites for locating nuclear power plants in the state," Singh added.

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In response to another question, he said the Atomic Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) has identified Gogi-Kanchankai area in Yadhir district of Karnataka and it is under the evaluation of DAE.

Singh also added that the DAE had filed for 40 patents in the last five years and nine were granted to them. In response to another question, Singh said, on January16, India formally became a member of CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research), which derives the acronym from its french name and is the world's largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory. 

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