nuclear energy-environmental problems

Environmental problems and nuclear power plants

India’s  24 billion dollars reactor deal with France potential provide energy for every house at affordable prices at least in Maharashtra state of India. Nuclear energy is a cleaner energy as there is no burning as a result there is no emission of carbon dioxide.

The estimated project cost and operative cost for various power as follows

Coal  :  Capital cost estimated  at RS 4-5 Crores   per M.W.  and operating cost RS 2-2.50 per KWH

Hydro  : Capital cost estimated at RS 4- 5 Crores per M.W. and operating cost RS 3-3.50 per KWH.

Wind power : Capital cost estimated at RS 6-7 Crores per M.W. and operating cost RS 3-3.50 per kw h

Nuclear power : Capital cost estimated RS 6 Crones per M.W. going by project cost of PWR and PHWR reactors which depends upon each deal, operating cost is approximately RS 2.75-3.50 per KWH.   

By above analysis  cost we can  better understand  that    nuclear power is not so much expensive  in India as cost of power not much expensive when compared to other power  sources.

Jaithapur proposed 10,000 M.W. plant proposes to provide electricity to rural India reeling under eight hour power cuts . But region is considered ecologically fragile and plant has raised concern about what civilians  can do with increase in temperature which will decrease in bio-diversity green Ghats of Jaitapur.The area has rich bio-diversity its people enjoyed fishing and farming for lively hood  in their ecologically fertile lands . Environmentalists say  that more than 200 hectares of mangroves will vanish along with marine species.

Marine biologists say the true impacts of bio-diversity of this bigger nuclear reactor will never known unless one decided to comprehensive bio-diversity. The temperature rise in coastal areas  Jaitapur will effect environment of the district and that is the reason locals are resisting against building nuclear power plant in Jaitapur.

In nuclear power corporation of India (NPCIL)has agreed to provide job or 5 lakh  for compensation for people whose lands have acquired for building nuclear reactor. In addition NPCIL has assured compensation package 2 crores  for development of four villages which are going  to effect by nuclear reactor erection.

Proposed Nuclear sites in India 

Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh

The village Kovvada in Srikakulam district became focus once nuclear plant site was proposed to set up 8 years back. Most of 3000 people in the 13 villages across the district are fisher folk and shepherds. Kovvada is up in arms because it fears the nuclear power plant will destroy its Eco-system and common life people around.

When a team of nuclear energy and oceanography experts visited the site recently it faced wrathful  local fishermen  . But plans for going ahead. The chief engineer of plant says two reactors will be installed by 2014 with  whopping cost of each 9000 crores with life span of 60 years. These reactors will be installed with technical collaboration from firms G.E. and Westing  House. Total 10 reactors will be  installed in next ten years in a phased manner. Some villagers are taken to Tamilnadu’s Kalpak am and Kandankulam nuclear power plants in order to see how nuclear power plants function and their safety factor. A fisher man  said they were taken  around plants and it was explained that nuclear power plants meet energy needs.

NPCIL plans to recruit 15000 local youths to work in plant from 2013.But  environmentalists and activists cry foul with V.S. Krishna of human rights forum lamenting reckless presiding over destruction of natural  Eco-systems.

Fathehabad  Haryana

For 115 days farmers of Gorakhpur village sitting out side mini secretariat here.   They are protesting the acquisition of land  just over 1000 acres of village by NPCIL. Villagers sought help of congress general secretary  Rahul Gandhi and chief minister Bhoopinder Singh Hooda but nothing happened. Even so farmers say that there are ready in long fight. They are not ready to loose their fertile land for acquisition land for building nuclear reactor.

Haripur West Bengal

On paper Haripur west Bengal is first state nuclear power plant. According  officials 12 Russian nuclear reactors were ordered. But installation preparation are on hold.

The site Mankaraiput under  Haripur mouza  in east Midnapur  was chosen after extensive survey of Geological survey of India. The pre-installation preparation on hold since farmers and fishermen across village agitating against building nuclear power plant in their lands.

NPCIL chair man and managing director Mr. S.K. Jain  told that project on hold off till 2011 assembly elections. National fish workers forum secretary Pradip Banerji  agrees promising strong and consistent opposition government bid to acquire the agriculture  farm land. The mood is so militant at Haripur chased away a congress delegation which visited in January 2009 to get sense of stand off. Nearly two years passed Haripur missed plant.

All these environmental problems are teething troubles. NPCIL  who are responsible for building and operating nuclear power plants in India need patience and persuasion to speed  up successfully negotiate the attractive compensation package for land owners and settle with repeated discussions across table.

Nuclear scenario

India planned to import light water reactors from Russia ,U.S. , France and South Korea. They expected to play a key role in increase nuclear power from 3 per cent to 40 per cent by 2052 says former chair man AEC  Mr.M.R. srinivasan ‘ we plan to generate 20,000 M.W. by 2020 “ says Srinivasan who is member AEC. Almost all nuclear experts agree that India need nuclear power.


India placed single biggest order worth  24 billion dollars worth with European nuclear giant Areva for supply 2 no’s European pressurized nuclear reactor (EPR) out of 6 no’s of 1650  M.W. planned for Jaitapur site in Maharashtra

P.K. Iyengar another former AEC chairman critical of placing order with French giant Areva. He says it is not easy to import and it takes time India to become nuclear nation.

But Atomic Energy Commission member  Srinivasan  says “ the safest reactors in the world and I am glad we will be obtaining “. it is worthy to mention here French EPR are most safest reactors available in nuclear world scenario as these reactors are successfully commissioned in France.

Regarding Jaitapur environmental problem AEC Chairman Mr. S. Benerji  said the state government had provided the land. It is barren area and compensation package is attractive. We are negotiating with land owners and we will certainly not to do any thing which threaten the environment . Banerji claim that the reactor will be constructed so that 1.5 kilometer under sea tunnel will channel extract heat away  safety  ‘ so there will be no threat to environment at all” Banerji said. Banerji is hopeful the first French reactor will go critical at Jaithapur by 2017 but Areva imports themselves depend upon in do- Japanese nuclear deal because  French firm has a tie up Japan’s Mitsubishi . There is no indication when Japan -India  sign nuclear deal.

But Banerji is keen to focus on positive side of story . The India-U.S. deal has been operational facilitate import of  “ reactors from  France, U.S., and Russia . The AEC Chair man also upbeat about liability and pricing “ these will be done and  I am  very sure about this .’

Mr. . Srinivasan shares confidence  says “ the progress with Westing House  and General Electric has been 
less when compared France and Russia .” There  are internal problems in U.S. about nuclear power and democrats do not seem to be enthusiastic either. We would like U.S. industry to speed up .”

But liability issue is elephant  in a room . Russia ,Japan, south Korea ( reactors of Westing House or American design ) which mean they too will want liability issue to be clarified before going ahead with formal negotiations. As of now U.S. it is not agreeable totally to liability bill.
Banerji  add if and when they are built undoubtedly end India’s quest for clean energy.

Of course India -U.S.  nuclear deal will allow import of uranium and NPCIL has located other areas  apart from Jaduguda  in Jharkhand  where uranium is available. There are uranium mines in Meghalaya and Andhra Pradesh . But mining operations face great resistance from local people. 

However India needs  nuclear energy  for our India’s overall  industrial development and domestic needs.