BY TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JULY 19, 2018: THE Government appears to be unaffected by the multifarious inhibitions and apprehensions surrounding the adoption of nuclear power as an alternative source of energy. In this regard, the MoS (I/C) for Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, today in Parliament stated that the Government proposed to set up ten indigeniously-developed nuclear power reactors in different parts of the country.

The Government in June, 2017 had given administrative approval and financial sanction for setting up 10 indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) of 700 MW each in fleet mode. These reactors of indigenous technology are being set up by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), a wholly owned PSU of Government of India under the administrative control of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

These reactors are proposed to be set up at the following locations:

The pre-project activities comprising of Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement & Environmental Clearance are in progress at various stages at these sites. Land is available at Kaiga and Gorakhpur sites and land acquisition is at an advanced stage at Chutka and Mahi Banswara sites. Environmental Clearance is accorded for Chutka 1&2 and GHAVP 3&4 projects. For other sites, the process of Environmental Clearance is in various stages. In addition, procurement of long manufacturing cycle equipment & human resource planning have been initiated.

With the progressive completion of projects under construction (including 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), being implemented by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited [BHAVINI] and projects sanctioned (including these ten PHWRs), the total nuclear power capacity would reach 22480 MW by the year 2031.