Andhra Pradesh government has declared different zones in the areas surrounding the 6x1594 MW nuclear power plant proposed by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) near Kovvada in Srikakulam district.
The areas in and around the plant will be classified into four zones namely, exclusion zone, sterilisation zone, emergency planning zone and impact assessment zone. GO Ms. No. 186 was issued by the Department of Municipal Administration & Urban Development on September 6. It was required as per guidelines issued by EIA guidance manual issued by Ministry of Environment & Forests and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
In exclusion zone, no public habitation is permitted due to radiation pathways. The size of zone shall not be less than 1 km from the centre of the reactor. Ramachandrapuram, Tekkali and Gudem fall under the zone.
The sterilised zone is up to 5 km from the plant area. It is annulus around the exclusion zone, where under adverse conditions, there maybe extensive ground contamination, perhaps requiring import of fresh food and milk. As per the GO, though the actual area involved maybe small depending upon the plume spread, there might be an inhalation hazard and extensive ground contamination requiring emergency measures.
In this zone, natural growth is permitted but planned expansion of activities leading to population growth is not allowed as an administrative measure. Fourteen villages come under this zone.
Sixteen km radius is declared as emergency planning zone. It provides basic geographic framework for decision-making on implementing measures as part of graded response in the event of an emergency.
Impact assessment zone will be in 30 km radius. Industrial development, specialised hospitals and educational institutions will not be allowed in this zone. Administrative control to restrict enhanced population growth is restricted to sterilisation zone.
