Safety of BARC, Tarapur, Jaitapur N-projects reviewed

Gaikwad was speaking at a meeting held at Mantralaya to review of the safety of nuclear power projects at BARC, Tarapur and proposed project at Jaitapur, in the aftermath of the situation in Japan.

Nuclear radiation from the damaged nuclear power project is slowing down and people residing in the peripheral area of 20 km were displaced, Gaikwad said.

There is no danger to people in India who are 5,500 km away, he said, adding people should not believe in rumours.

"We are exposed to natural radiation daily and this dose of radiation may be variable. Natural radiation is more in hilly areas as compared to sea shore. We receive high dose of radiation during our journey by plane. It is important for all to remember that radiation caused by active nuclear power project is negligible," an official release quoted Gaikwad as saying.

The disaster management plan for Tarapur nuclear power project was in place and according to this plan, after every couple of years, a mock drill at the project site is organized by the disaster management system, the meeting was informed.

The meeting, held yesterday, was attended by S K Jain, Chairman and Managing Director Nuclear Power Corporation of India, A P Joshi, Chairman Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, S K Chande, Deputy Chairman of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Umeshchandra Sarangi, Additional Chief Secretary (Home)and Satyapal Singh, Additional Director Police.