Jaitapur Nuclear Project

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Despite opposition, the Government has given the go ahead to the nuclear power project in Jaitapur on the eve of the French president's visit to India. The French certainly went back happy, however, these so called "strategic decisions" taken with the aid of faulty environmental impact assessments ignoring massive protests by the local people doesn't suit a democracy. The unfortunate earthquake and tsunami induced impending nuclear disaster in Japan has led to the Government announcing review the safety of our nuclear plants. The impact on Jaitapur go ahead decision is yet to be seen. Sharing an article published in Times of India.

Sabyasachi

Nuclear plant at Jaitapur: The mystery of the missing creeks
Viju B, TNN | Mar 25, 2011, 01.29am IST

The government's decision to review the safety of nuclear plants across the country, including the one proposed at Jaitapur may prove to be more than precautionary. For, the Union ministry of environment and forests gave an eco-clearance for the 9,900MW nuclear plant at Jaitapur in Ratnagiri district on the findings of a report that not only ignored the presence of two major creeks at the proposed site, but also based some of its findings from 22 years ago.

The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report simply assumed that two water bodies — 35km-long Vijaydurg creek and 40km-long Rajapur creek, which flank the proposed plant — were filled up.

The report, submitted by the National Environment Engineering and Research Institute (Neeri) in 2008, did not take into account either inter-tidal activity or the effect of an increase in the temperature of seawater on the rivers. The creeks are rich in marine life and biodiversity and a source of livelihood for 15,000 fishing families.

In an anomaly that officials are unable to explain, maps depicting 'functional' open creeks were published in the report. But for some reason, the key computer-generated two-dimensional simulation study based on which the green clearance was given, did not take the creeks into account. TOI has images of maps depicting land mass where the rivers were meant to be. By way of explanation, the EIA report said: "As no data on the discharges coming through Rajapur (Jaitapur) and Vijaydurg creeks was available, the model boundary at the creeks is assumed to be closed."

The final report that Neeri submitted to the MoEF included findings of many environmental and national organizations, among them the Central Water Power Research Station (CWPRS). The simulated study was prepared by CWPRS after Neeri asked the research institute to conduct two- and three-dimensional models of the proposed plant and its environmental impact. CWPRS did not even submit the 3-D model.

A hydrodynamic study was done to analyze water currents and inter-tidal activity of the sea on the proposed site. Researchers also did a thermodynamics study to analyze the dispersal of hot water discharged from the nuclear reactor into the sea. But it remains silent on the effect the discharges will have on the creeks. "Any modelling that does not take into account the creeks' currents, especially during low tide is inadequate. The report's assumptions that the increase in sea water temperature would be minimal are false," said environmental activist Pradeep Indulkar.

A senior Neeri official on condition of anonymity, said: "We can only comment on this after we look into the details of the simulation model. But it is likely that CWPRS must have based the model on a domain that does not impact the creek. The thermal discharge may not be flowing in this direction."

There are other flaws, too. The readings of sea water currents used for this model is based on information provided by the National Institute of Oceanography in November 1989. "The tidal and current observation of a month in November 1989 was available. About 15 days tidal variation of November 1989 was used. Wind data of December 1989 was available, which was used of simulation of flow,'' the EIA report said.

The Neeri official said: "The old readings will suffice because there will not be much change in current patterns."

Environmentalists and activists insist that using old data is a "major error" in the analysis of the ocean's inter-tidal activities and thermal dispersions at the nuclear site. Indulkar said the readings for the simulated model should have been updated as per the current scenario and taken into account future conditions. "It should have predicted the tidal movements and seawater temperature for 2024, when the plant is scheduled to be operational. A three-dimensional study was not even done," he said. The source article can be found here: Nuclear plant at Jaitapur: The mystery of the missing creeks - The Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/developmental-issues/Nuclear-plant-at-Jaitapur-The-mystery-of-the-missing-creeks/articleshow/7783717.cms)

[Sabyasachi Patra]

The Jaitapur situation is becoming increasingly grave day by day. The Government is unwilling to rethink on the proposed nuclear power project. The local people are continuing their agitation. In a sad situation, one person was killed in police firing. Sharing a PTI news.
Sabyasachi

1 killed in police firing at Jaitapur
Press Trust Of India
Posted on Apr 18, 2011 at 07:26pm IST

Mumbai: One person was killed in police firing as protests against the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power plant in coastal Ratnagiri district on Monday turned violent with agitators setting ablaze a police station.

The man, identified as Tavrez Sejkar, was killed in police firing at Sakhrinate village when around 600-700 locals protesting against the proposed 9,900 MW project, attacked the local police station, Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil told the state Assembly.

He said the agitators stormed the police station when most officials were on duty at the project site in Jaitapur since the locals were to stage a demonstration there.

Anger was brewing in the area following Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh's statement here on last Friday ruling out a "rethink" on the project.
Patil said the protesters were also suspected to have decamped with some firearms and ammunition.

"A deputy superintendent of police and some constables have been injured in the incident," Patil said, adding the violent crowd set afire some police vehicles, forcing the police to fire in the air to scare the protesters away.
However, as that failed to bring the situation under control, police fired at the crowd resulting in the death of Sejkar.

The source article can be found here: 1 killed in police firing at Jaitapur - India News - IBNLive (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/1-killed-in-police-firing-at-jaitapur/149574-3.html)

[Lakshminarayanan Nataraja]

Many scientists and experts claim that the reactors in India as far safer than those in Japan. Though we cannot technically dispute this claim, it is certain that nuclear reactors are literal time-bombs given the massive man induced transformation the earth is undergoing, the impeding catastrophes in the form of earth-quakes, Tsunamis and their likes capable of toppling any secure structures loom large before us.

India is showing no sign of switching towards non-conventional power resources such as the solar power.

Even for lighting a 60W bulb and a 60W fan, one may have to spend over Rs. 15000 on the installations of solar power supply at this juncture and hence the common man finds the solar power very expensive and waste a try when cheap grid is available.

Unless there is a massive thrust from the government and only when the government bodies lead from the front with respect to solar power, dependencies will reduce on the hydro, nuclear and other disastrous power generation methodologies.

Similarly, no one is bothering to talk about the wastage. A Mount Road in Chennai or MG road in Bangalore galores in the night consuming in the process several MW of energy just for luring the people. It is eye sour to see the showrooms illuminate in the night while we jeopardise the nation's security by investing in dangerous power generation means.

With a little awakening, people can stall these projects and influence the government in switching over to novel power generation schemes.

Japan is teaching the lesson which country like India with corrupt politicians and weak administrators is reluctant to listen.

[Mrudul Godbole]

Govt. gives green signal to Jaitapur nuke plant
AARTI DHAR

On a day when the world marked the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, India reaffirmed its commitment to an ambitious nuclear energy plan by pushing ahead with the first phase of the controversial nuclear power plant project at Jaitapur in Maharashtra with additional safety measures and a “generous new compensation package” to be announced soon.

But in a concession to heightened public awareness of the need for proper regulation and oversight, the government on Tuesday promised to introduce a bill in the next session of Parliament creating an independent and autonomous Nuclear Regulatory Authority of India that would subsume the existing Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).

The AERB has been criticised for being administratively subordinate to the very atomic energy establishment whose operations it is meant to regulate.

The decision to clear the decks for setting up two 1,650-MWe reactors at Jaitapur was taken at a meeting convened here by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It was attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office V. Narayanasamy and Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh. Among those who briefed the Prime Minister were S. Banerjee, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy; S.K. Jain of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India that will operate the plant at Jaitapur and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon.

The meeting reviewed the current status of the Jaitapur project as well as safety concerns arising out of the nuclear accident at Fukushima in Japan and their impact on India's overall nuclear energy programme, Mr. Narayanasamy told reporters. All factors that led to the Fukushima disaster had been factored in, he said. “The Prime Minister was apprised of the doubts and concerns expressed by the local people in Jaitapur about the project, and the measures being taken to address these concerns,” Mr Narayanasamy said.

The first two units, proposed to become operational in 2019, will have their own stand-alone safety and operational system.

Describing the ongoing protests at Jaitapur as “politically motivated,” Mr. Chavan accused “outsiders” of instigating the opposition, adding that these were based on misconceptions and rumours. “We have engaged with the local community and assured them that safety will never be compromised,” he said.

The meeting also decided to make public the initial results of the six safety review committees set up after the Fukushima accident, as also the action taken on previous safety reviews. The government will invite the Operational Safety Review Team of the International Atomic Energy Authority to assist in its own safety reviews and audit. 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, Mr. Ramesh said.

The meeting reiterated that India's nuclear energy needs were vast and growing and nuclear energy was an important clean energy option which would be pursued with full regard to the safety, livelihood and security of the people. “Government's intention is to ensure nuclear power that is safe, secure and economical. While imported reactors have their place, indigenously-designed and developed reactors will continue to be at the very foundation of the country's nuclear programme,” Mr Narayanasamy said.

Environmental approval for the Jaitapur Power Park was accorded in November 2010 with 35 preconditions. The Prime Minister was informed that each of the conditions would be adhered to in a fully transparent manner. A comprehensive environmental impact assessment of the two reactors would be done when both become operational in 2019. An official release said Dr. Singh underscored that safety of nuclear power plants was a matter of the highest priority and there was need for improving public communication and outreach on the part of the Department of Atomic Energy and the National Power Corporation of India Limited.

Link - http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1769844.ece