State-owned Nuclear Power Corporation (NPCIL) expects the much-delayed Koodankulam nuclear project’s first unit to commence commercial operations by August 2012, and the second of the two 1,000 MWe (mega watt electrical) units by March 2013. This is as per the new official commissioning schedules announced for the project, which has suffered an over five-month delay due to protests.

Fresh water for ensuring unhindered operation of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) will not be drawn from the Pechipaarai dam or the Tamirabharani, the outgoing Site Director, M. Kasinath Balaji, has said.

“Since we've installed two desalination plants to meet the drinking water requirements of Anu Vijay township (where KKNPP personnel reside) and also the KKNPP site, we will never draw water from the Pechipaarai dam in Kanyakumari district or the Tamirabharani, lifeline of southern districts, at any point of time in future.

Instead of imposing nuclear power upon unwilling people, India should join the renewables revolution for handsome gains.

Mumbai’s Tata Memorial Centre has begun work to set up a community-based cancer registry and carry out health surveys to document the precise occurrence of cancer, birth defects and other illnesses around India’s atomic power plants. The move to study the incidence of the disease comes in the wake of increased apprehension among residents of areas close to nuclear power installations. It is expected to lead to the creation of a large database that will allow continuous monitoring, and help detect any patterns in the occurrence of cancer and other illnesses around the nuclear plants.

CHENNAI: The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) Friday announced that the first of the two 1,000 MW units of Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) is expected to start commercial operations this August and the second unit in March 2013.

The announcement on NPCIL's website as to the expected month of commercial operation of the first unit has now eased the mental pressure on people at KKNPP as the government has been saying that the first reactor would start operations in 20 days' time.

Fatehabad: Work for the setting up of the proposed nuclear power plant at Gorakhpur by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), which is already behind schedule, is likely to be delayed further now. The NPCIL has not been able to deposit funds for distribution among farmers as compensation for their land with the district authorities though three months have elapsed since notification under Section 9 of the Land Acquisition Act was issued in February this year.

Fatehabad: Senior officers of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) had a tough time answering questions of medicos on safety aspects even as agitating farmers launched a fresh movement against the Gorakhpur atomic power project today. The NPCIL’s scientific meet last night with members of the local chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to allay public fears about radiation ill-effects proved counterproductive.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that it would be harmful if the country gave up the option of tapping nuclear energy as an additional source of electricity. Fielding a pointed query from Shiv Sena floor leader Anant Geete during Question Hour, the Prime Minister said: “It would be harmful for the country’s interest to pass an ordinance of self-denial that we shall give up the option of having nuclear power as an additional source.”

There will be no compromise on the safety of atomic plants and it will be harmful to close the additional source of energy. It will be harmful for the country to pass ordinance on denial of nuclear power, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asserted in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

After the Fukushima accident in Japan in March 2011, the Prime Minister said, he ordered a complete review of the 20 operating nuclear reactors across the country and none of them reported any incident. “Our view is that when it comes to safety, there will be no compromise.”

“PIO failed to explain reasons for withholding the reports”

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) to host in its website before May 30 the Safety Analysis Report, Site Evaluation Report and Environmental Impact Assessment Report regarding the two reactors to be commissioned at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project in Tirunelveli district.