India's Nuclear Plants Are Among the Safest Worldwide, Operating Below Global Emission Standards: Government

10 Dec 2024

Union Minister Jitendra Singh told the Rajya Sabha that India's nuclear power plants adhere to the highest safety standards globally and maintain radiation emission levels well within international limits. He emphasised that safety is a fundamental pillar of the nation's nuclear energy policy.

Dr. Singh told the House that the global safety threshold for radiation emissions is 1000 microsieverts, and India's nuclear facilities consistently operate well within this limit. He highlighted notable reductions in radiation levels at key plants, citing Kudankulam, where emissions have dropped from 0.081 microsieverts a decade ago to 0.002 microsieverts today, and Kalpakkam, where emissions have decreased from 23.140 microsieverts in 2014 to 15.961 microsieverts in 2023.

Dr. Singh stated during Question Hour, "In the Department of Atomic Energy, we adhere to the principle of 'safety first, production second.' Every phase, from site selection to operational verification, is regulated by strict protocols."

Natural Disaster Resilience

The union minister outlined steps taken to protect plants from natural disasters. Nuclear facilities along the eastern coast are located more than 1,300 km away from tsunami-prone areas in Indonesia, while those on the western coast, such as Tarapur, are situated 900 km from similar risk zones in Pakistan. Additionally, the plants are built above the highest recorded flood levels.