Concerns over Indian nuclear capabilities

[Icewolf]

Indeed, yet the nukes remain safe. After all the nukes are not in those plants, aren't even assembled in those plants. Unless accidental contact with a biological organism makes fissile material more unstable than it usually is. Got anything else bub?

If your nukes are taken care of as radioactive material in your plants... India needs its nukes taken away...

LOL... Can you believe those idiots were mopping up radioactive material with brooms...
Maybe you guys pick up random beggars off the street and make them work in power plants.

 

[Dillinger]

One can always fall back on the stellar non-proliferation record maintained by our neighbors. I feel positively left out, should have armed some country like Vietnam or perhaps Gaddafi (god rest that man's soul for he had panache), earned some notoriety.

If your nukes are taken care of as radioactive material in your plants... India needs its nukes taken away...

LOL... Can you believe those idiots were mopping up radioactive material with brooms...
Maybe you guys pick up random beggars off the street and make them work in power plants.

Would you define what radioactive material pertains to here, reprocessed fuel, dampers, shielding material, heavy water?

Please do enlighten us, me specially, seeing as we (I) are deficient in knowledge pertaining to nuclear physics.

 

[Dillinger]

Also if someone would be so kind as to also include data pertaining to RAD exposure, would be much obliged.

 

[armchairPrivate]

I think WE should cut India some slack.

Haven't you heard?

US nearly detonated atomic bomb over North Carolina

A secret document, published in declassified form for the first time by the Guardian today, reveals that the US Air Force came dramatically close to detonating an atom bomb over North Carolina that would have been 260 times more powerful than the device that devastated Hiroshima.

The document, obtained by the investigative journalist Eric Schlosser under the Freedom of Information Act, gives the first conclusive evidence that the US was narrowly spared a disaster of monumental proportions when two Mark 39 hydrogen bombs were accidentally dropped over Goldsboro, North Carolina on 23 January 1961. The bombs fell to earth after a B-52 bomber broke up in mid-air, and one of the devices behaved precisely as a nuclear weapon was designed to behave in warfare: its parachute opened, its trigger mechanisms engaged, and only one low-voltage switch prevented untold carnage.

Each bomb carried a payload of 4 megatons – the equivalent of 4 million tons of TNT explosive. Had the device detonated, lethal fallout could have been deposited over Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and as far north as New York city – putting millions of lives at risk.

Though there has been persistent speculation about how narrow the Goldsboro escape was, the US government has repeatedly publicly denied that its nuclear arsenal has ever put Americans' lives in jeopardy through safety flaws. But in the newly-published document, a senior engineer in the Sandia national laboratories responsible for the mechanical safety of nuclear weapons concludes that "one simple, dynamo-technology, low voltage switch stood between the United States and a major catastrophe".

Writing eight years after the accident, Parker F Jones found that the bombs that dropped over North Carolina, just three days after John F Kennedy made his inaugural address as president, were inadequate in their safety controls and that the final switch that prevented disaster could easily have been shorted by an electrical jolt, leading to a nuclear burst. "It would have been bad news – in spades," he wrote.

Jones dryly entitled his secret report "Goldsboro Revisited or: How I learned to Mistrust the H-Bomb" – a quip on Stanley Kubrick's 1964 satirical film about nuclear holocaust, Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.....continue

 

[janon]

There they go again, our neighbours expressing concern over the specifications of our fire safety equipments, while their own house is on fire.

There is a country in the neighbourhood where terrorists have infiltrated the biggest naval air station and blown up prized aircrafts obtained on dole. Where terrorists have infiltrated a major air base and blown up the most expensive flying objects in the country. Where the army headquarters has itself been taken over, and elite special forces had to raid their own headquarters. Where do such travesties occur REPEATEDLY? Not in India, I can assure you.

@Icewolf: Have some shame man, unless you are a complete ignoramus. The above mentioned incidents cannot be compared to foreign (Pakistani, of course) terrorists throwing grenades into railway stations. Mumbai may be the financial capital, but that doesn't mean that it is a fortified city. And even that happened only ones, even our civilians are now more secure than your generals. The parliament was not infiltrated. Pakistani terrorists managed to explode a car bomb in the vicinity, when their plan was thwarted by the brave CRPF contingent. On the other hand, your most secure facilities have been infiltrated repeatedly by your own people, with inside help, and without. And first you said India has had "major nuclear accidents", and when called on it, talked about some sweeper touching his face. LOL.

There is a reason why the whole world expresses concern for the security of only one country's N-bombs falling into the hands of terrorists. Not India's, not China's. That country which produces more terrorists than the rest of the world put together. That land of the pure where people don't know is a terrorist anymore, and are trying to sift the good terrorists from the bad. For terrorists to take over a N-weapon from India, they would first have to infiltrate into the country from Pakistan. That is itself a suicide mission these days. Then they will have too survive long enough not to be shot dead by Kashmiri policemen. Then they have to infiltrate an Indian military base (ain't happening, dudes). Then somehow steal a N-bomb and fissile material, and then mate them, and punch the launch codes and detonate it. The world is not losing any sleep over that set of possibilities (impossibilities).

On the other hand, in Pakistan, the terrorists don't have to infiltrate from anywhere, they are already in the country. And getting into military bases is quite easy, as they have demonstrated time and again. And with inside help...

It is funny that Pakistan desperately acquired nuclear weapons to ensure the security of the state, and now the state of Pakistan is desperately trying to ensure the security of its nukes. Are the nukes barely keeping Pakistan together, or is Pakistan barely keeping the nukes together?

 

[dray]

What is this? Deja vu? Similar thread was opened with the same article a few days ago.

And with the same printing mistakes! India was mistakenly printed all over the article instead of Pakistan, and the article was rendered worthless!!

Concerns over Indian nuclear capabilities — Hasan Ehtisham
Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Ever since the India-US nuclear deal has taken place, India has signed civil nuclear deals with more than half a dozen countries. Hence the most precarious lie advocated that India has a strong track record of nuclear safety for the materilisation of these nuclear deals. On the other hand, mainstream media and western governments are constantly generating hype about the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, whereas they are not concerned about highly startling conditions regarding the nuclear capabilities of India.

Now if we prefer to remain on the surface, some print and electronic media reports would lead us to believe that India has a strong nuclear non-proliferation track record. On the contrary, the highly alarming situation remains unnoticed. There is an unnoticed and largely ignored history of Indian illegal nuclear procurement, poor nuclear export controls and mismanagement of nuclear facilities. For instance, India diverted Canadian-supplied fuel for research and generating power to make nuclear weapons. But there is more to the nuclear programme than meets the unsuspecting eye.

Let us look at the nuclear safety first. There are numerous hazardous nuclear installations in India that could lead to a major disaster with extraordinary bearing on the lives of large populations around these facilities. According to the Australian newspaper, The Age, there is no national policy in India on nuclear and radiation safety. Despite all this, India has never strived to adopt world standards and best practices for nuclear safety. Radioactive wastes disposal in Indian rivers is an undocumented environmental tragedy in India.

In India, the constructions of nuclear facilities on coastlines are exposed to natural disasters like the monstrous tsunami of 2004. Beside the damage to the environment, there are numerous cases where workers were exposed to high radiation doses. There are 350 documented cases of radiation exposure that were reported at Tarapur, which is India’s first nuclear station.

There are huge nuclear security issues in India because it is prone to insurgent groups and separatist rebels. According to the Daily Mail’s reports, most of the India’s top nuclear facilities are located in exceedingly Naxal terrorists’-struck districts of India or in the ‘Red Corridor’. Some of the sensitive nuclear installations situated in this Red Corridor are: Uranium Corporation of India Limited, Talcher Heavy Water Plant, Institute of Physics, Ceramatic Fuel Fabrication Facility, Nuclear Fuel Complex, Seha Institute of Nuclear Physic and Atomic Minerals Directorate. Around 90 percent of the Red Corridor areas are a No-Go-Zone for the Indian troops and Air Force. The Naxal rebels are in full control and there is no writ of the Indian government in these areas.

The shocking aspect of Daily Mail’s reports is that Indian nuclear scientists are reportedly assisting Naxal rebels to learn to utilise and transport Uranium. On the other hand, India’s maximum missile facilities are also located in either the Red Corridor or in the areas controlled by Hindu radicals and militant organizations. There are also reported cases of abduction of nuclear scientists from these areas, which is a very disturbing situation with respect to safety and security of nuclear weapons.

Any nuclear accident in India could have serious fallout on its neighbouring countries and hence the poor safety and security measures are of great concern. For instance, a nuclear weapon in the hands of Indian terrorists could lead to an accidental nuclear war between Pakistan and India. Likewise, an accident at a nuclear power plant could release radiation that may not respect any borders.

India has to take numerous steps to ensure safety of its nuclear programme. Michael Krepon, who is the co-founder of a Washington based think tank and has looked at South Asia for four decades, once said that when it comes to nuclear strategy, people in Pakistan say little but act expeditiously! In India, on the other hand, people write much and act slowly. So merely talking about nuclear issues will not resolve the dilemma of nuclear insecurity for India; they will have to walk the talk. Indian government needs to take concrete and verifiable steps to ensure the safety and security of its nukes.

The writer is a freelance columnist

Daily Times | Concerns over Indian nuclear capabilities

 

[anant_s]

Let us look at the nuclear safety first. There are numerous hazardous nuclear installations in India that could lead to a major disaster with extraordinary bearing on the lives of large populations around these facilities. According to the Australian newspaper, The Age, there is no national policy in India on nuclear and radiation safety. Despite all this, India has never strived to adopt world standards and best practices for nuclear safety. Radioactive wastes disposal in Indian rivers is an undocumented environmental tragedy in India.

Brilliant Sir, now heres something that may ineterst you
http://www.aerb.gov.in/AERBPortal/viewCodesAndGuides.action?category=Radiation Protection

 

[invincible]

The writer is a freelance columnist ...phele likh deta padne ka zaroorat nahi hota

90 per cent of red zone are no go zone for indian troops and airforce ..abe kyun ki waha CRPF or police force hai ..

 

[Agent_47]

In Today's news :

India's nuclear reactors are most safe in world

AMRITSAR: The country's nuclear reactors are one of the safest in the world, a senior BARC scientist said on Monday.

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre's (BARC) Director of Health, Safety and Environment Group and member, International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA) Dr D N Sharma said "All reactors and nuclear power plants adhere to topmost safety measures and environment safety guidelines."


Speaking at the 83rd national workshop on Radiochemistry and Applications of Radioisotopes ( NWRAR) at Khalsa College here, he referred to the radiation accident that took place last year at Mayapuri in Delhi and how safety measures had worked.

"There is a plan to equip 1,000 police stations with radiation monitors in the country," he said adding, the National Disaster Management Authority has data on how and where an emergency can occur and how to react.

India's nuclear reactors are most safe in world: BARC - Economic Times

"India has emerged a winner with a high global safety rank [in the audit]," Miroslav Lipar, head of the Operational Safety Division at the IAEA in Vienna, said.

The waste disposal facilities "were up to the mark", he said and added that the team was "impressed" in the way the personnel at the reactor separated high-level highly radioactive waste and low-level relatively benign waste.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20440675

 

[invincible]

@SUPARCO:If I remember correctly,the same article was posted before,with another title.

i think some people are trying to keep us visiting these threads so to earn there bread money..otherwise they know what they are talking about ..they can't be that much ignorant

 

[shiv]

Same thread being opened repeatedly ! Seems some one is having verbal dysentry !

ANyways .. the article is altogather BS and no matter how much pakistanis cry hoarse, Indian's will not become an international pariah like them !

 

[Lil Mathew]

I'll give you ten more posts about the US nuclear safety concerns... But these are concerns... Pakistan's case is so different....


Study: All 107 U.S. nuclear reactors vulnerable to terrorists
By Brian Montopoli / CBS News/ August 15, 2013, 2:46 PM

Every commercial nuclear reactor in the United States is insufficiently protected against "credible" terrorist threats, according to a new report from the Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project at the University of Texas at Austin.


The report found that facilities were vulnerable to the theft of bomb-grade nuclear materials and sabotage attacks designed to cause a meltdown.


While all 107 commercial nuclear power reactors were thought to be vulnerable, the report spotlighted 11 that were most at risk. That included eight reactors that were deemed unprotected from attacks from the sea: Diablo Canyon in California, St. Lucie in Florida, Brunswick in North Carolina, Surry in Virginia, Indian Point in New York, Millstone in Connecticut, Pilgrim in Massachusetts, and the South Texas Project.


Three civilian reactors fueled with bomb-grade uranium were also deemed particularly vulnerable. They are housed at the University of Missouri in Columbia, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology - which is within 25 miles of the White House. Unlike military facilities that hold bomb-grade uranium, the report found, these facilities are not sufficiently defended against a credible terrorist threat.


As a release announcing the report notes, the Sept. 11 hijackers considered flying a passenger jet into a New York City-area nuclear reactor.


"More than 10 years have come and gone since the events of September 2001, and America's civilian nuclear facilities remain unprotected against a terrorist attack of that scale," said report co-author Alan J. Kuperman. "Instead, our civilian reactors prepare only against a much smaller-scale attack."


The facility near the White House, Kuperman added, is not required to even protect against the smaller-scale attack, known as "design basis threat."


"We know where the weak spots are when it comes to nuclear facilities, so it would be the height of irresponsibility to fail to take action now," he said.


The report found that some U.S. government nuclear facilities are protected against most or all threats, but others remain unprotected because they are seen as having little appeal to terrorists or because officials believe an attack would not be catastrophic.


The report's authors take issue with that calculation, saying it is impossible to know which sites terrorists favor or which could be used to cause the most harm. They recommend that all facilities be upgraded to defend against a maximum credible terrorist attack.

 

[DeathInvader]

do someone pay these beggars for trolling? this report is so lame.

 

[AUSTERLITZ]

Hilarious,In the future refrain from posting baseless lies.

 

[footmarks]

This report is only partially true. Adding some more "Facts":

1. In kudankulam, the sea level have gone down due to dumping of heavy water in the sea. Water being heavier now, is pressing down towards the sea bed.

2. In tarapur, you can walk into any grocery shop and buy what they call as "nuclear Tikki", a small cylindrican shaped Uranium piece, made from stolen fuel rods from N-plant. It is used for boiling water by putting it directly in water bucket. Also, it is said to be used as microwave oven, by putting it inside an empty tin can.

3. In Narora, local jyms are giving their pehelwaans, a drink made of whey protein mixed in heavy water from N-plant to gain muscle weight.

4. The entire locality arount BARC, including vegetation, stray dogs and buildings, glow in the dark, because of radioactive leak.


There are many more such "undocumented" incidents all over India....