Rajya Sabha MP Palvai Govardhan Reddy urges PM Narendra Modi to order safety audit of all nuclear plants

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over the heavy water leak at Kakrapar plant in Gujarat, Rajya Sabha MP Palvai Govardhan Reddy today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately order safety and security audit of all nuclear power plants in the country.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, he said, "...I request the Prime Minister, since he is in-charge of the Ministry of Atomic Energy, to immediately order for safety and security audit of all nuclear power plants in the country and take every possible step to protect 350 employees working there, and also the people in that area."

The Congress member said Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) sending a team of experts for an independent assessment of the situation, indicates the seriousness of the situation.

"An expert is on record saying that there is no 'abnormal release of radioactivity' outside the plant or any radiation exposure. It means, there is 'no abnormal release of radioactive substance', but there is some normal release of radioactive substance which is now concerning the people of this area," he said.

AERB is worried that this is second such leak after a recent similar leak in 1000 MW Unit at Kudankulam. Two similar leaks were also reported in June and July, 2012, at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station, Reddy said.

"We are concerned, the country is concerned, as to why such leaks are taking places which will have radiological safety implications, not only affecting environment but also the public in the vicinity," he said.

He said that in the recent leak at Kakrapar, a plant emergency was declared indicating heightened state of alert for the personnel and management.