: The Andhra Pradesh government is considering some modifications to its orders relating to the proposals for developmental activities in the ‘sterilised zone’ around the proposed nuclear power plant at Kovvada in Srikakulam district.
The natural growth zone or sterilized zone will extend up to five-km radius from the reactor’s centre around the nuclear power plant where only natural growth is permitted. The zone will be established through administrative measures where growth of population, except for natural growth, industries and other developmental activities are restricted for safety of the plant and effective implementation of emergency measures.
The Government had earlier issued order (GO 186) based on the old code of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board in 1990 but a revised code was issued subsequently in 2014. The committee constituted to study the provisions under GO 186 afresh met recently to consider modifications to the order. While the existing order categorically mentioned that planned expansion of activities (other than natural growth) which will lead to an enhanced population are ‘not allowed,’ the proposed modification chose to replace it with ‘restricted activities’.
These changes, in tune with the revised code of AERB, were considered in the context of giving the no objection certificate to the proposed Covalent Laboratories at Maruvada village which falls in the ‘natural growth zone’ of the nuclear power plant. The committee, headed by Vice-Chairman, VUDA, considered the draft revision and recommended the revision of the order. While the earlier guideline was that no public habitation is permitted in the exclusion zone area which should not be less than one km from the centre of the reactor, the revised draft said the size of EZ should also satisfy the requirements with regard to security considerations of the facility. The area should also conform to the prescribed dose limits in all radiation exposure pathways including inhalation and ingestion routes.
The revised draft GO increased the number of villages in the Exclusion Zone from three to five. In addition to Ramachandrapuram, Tekkali and Gudem, some portions of Jeeru Kovvada and Kotapalem would now fall under the EZ. There is no change in the number of villages under the Sterilized Zone and they remain at 14.
Emergency management
The Emergency Planning Zone extending up to 16 km radial distance from reactor centre should have infrastructure, transportation network and means of communication for any emergency management for urgent protective action planning.
Instead of ‘Impact Assessment Zone’, the modified draft GO proposed ‘Radiological Surveillance Zone’ of 30-km radius around the nuclear power plant and the zone is synonymous with long-term protective action planning zone for emergency planning.
The proposed Covalent Laboratories, the committee felt, would not violate the listed NPP site rejection criteria and screening distance values. But as the project site is in the natural growth zone, it places some restrictions. The committee resolved to leave the decision at the government level.
