Bhai Zakir
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India's new 10,000 MW nuke plant Kovvada
VISAKHAPATNAM: While the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) initially planned to set up a 6x1000 MW nuclear power plant of light water reactors at Kovvada in Srikakulam district, it is now shortly expected to receive clearance from the central government for setting up a nuclear power plant with an enhanced power generation capacity of 6x1594 MW in the same area.
According to NPCIL project director G V Ramesh, the 6x1594MW nuclear power plant will be able to generate power of 9,564MW as the total site potential is 10,000MW. Ramesh said that NPCIL has identified Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) from US-based firm GE Hitachi for the project. However, he clarified that even though the capacity enhancement in power generation is being planned by the NPCIL, there is no requirement for additional land as the existing site has the potential to accommodate a 10,000MW plant.
He said that once the government approves the nuclear power plant with ESBWRs, the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report would be put out in the public domain to receive feedback from the people for a period of one month. The EIA comprises reports of any changes in the environment due to the setting up of the nuclear plant and steps taken by NPCIL to mitigate its effects on the environment. Once the feedback is received from the public about the nuclear plant, a public hearing would be held, following which the reports would be submitted to the ministry of environment and forests.
Pointing out that it would take at least one to one and a half years for the construction to take off once the approval is received from the ministry of environment and forests, the project director said that during this time they would undertake pre-project activities like geo-technical investigations about the soil characteristics. During this period they would be concentrating on developing the township and improving the infrastructure including roads, excavation for reactor and ground-levelling works at the site.
However, former secretary to the central government, E A S Sarma said that the site selection has not been made on the basis of any scientific criteria and that the present site is subject to seismic activity for which further studies are needed to be conducted.
He said that studies of the Department of Atomic Energy's (DAE) own agencies showed that there were at least four fault lines running through in the region.
"Most importantly, the country has no experience in handling new-generation reactors being brought into the country including the GE Hitachi ESBWR," Sarma said adding, "Even in Koodankulam, there have been reports that the dome of the reactor had to be broke open in order to install some high-tension cables because they forgot all about them."
Speaking about the impact of the nuclear plant, Ram, a rural medical practitioner at Kovvada, said, "We were taken to a plant in Chennai last year and then we also heard the view of the experts that are opposing the plant. Our main contention is that if the land is taken away for the welfare of the state, it's ok. But, after taking the land away and if the surrounding areas start getting polluted and water streams get affected due to leaks and radiation, we are not ready to part with the land." Kovvada nuclear plant to enhance its capacity - The Times of India
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