The nuclear disaster in Fukushima plant in Japan has once again opened question regarding the nuclear safety of the plants and Indian plant at Jaitapur needs more careful study and preventions. There will be six reactor units of 1650 MWe each at JNPP. Approximately all the six units of 1650 MWe each will be constructed in a twin-unit mode in phased manner and implemented in a period of 15-18 years. Evolutionary Pressurised Reactors (EPR) from AREVA, France is under consider-ation of the Government of India. Considering the imperatives following decisions are taken by the Government:
- The Government will introduce a Bill in the next session of Parliament to create an independent and autonomous Nuclear Regulatory Authority of India that will subsume the existing Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
- The initial results of the six safety review committees set up by the Government of India after the Fukushima accident will be made public. Action taken on previous safety reviews will be put in the pubic domain.
- The best available expertise will be used to ensure the highest levels of safety. The Government will invite the Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) of IAEA to assist in its own safety reviews and audit.
- Each reactor in Jaitapur will have its own individual stand alone safety and operation systems.
- All reactors and technologies, whether indigenous or imported, will without exception meet the safety standards that are stipulated by the regulatory authorities, and there will be complete transparency in the functioning of the nuclear power programme.
