AERB consent not yet sought for Kovvada N-plant site

Board conveys this to CPI(M) leader in response to an RTI application. When contacted, NPCIL Kovvada Project Director G.V. Ramesh told The Hindu on Monday that they had submitted basic ground data to AERB and it was under review.

An overview of Kovvada village where nuclear power project is proposed by Union government. Left parties say it comes under seismic zone and it cannot be constructed there. Photo: Basheer

Even as land acquisition is under process for 6x1594 MW nuclear plant near Kovvada in Srikakulam district, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has said in response to an application submitted under Right to Information Act, 2005 that it has not received any application for site approval.

In a letter dated August 19 (No.AERB/RSD/RTI/Appl. No. 490/2014/7873), AERB stated that they had not received any application from Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) requesting consent for site for the nuclear power plant.

The information was sought by CPI (M) State secretariat member Ch. Narsinga Rao on August 5 to find out whether AERB had completed evaluation process for site approval. To another pointed question, on whether any tentative time-frame was considered for grating the site approval for the project, AERB said site approval for EPR (evolutionary power reactors, also known as third generation pressured reactors), it not applicable as evaluation for site approval has not been made.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Rao said the government forthwith should stop the land acquisition process after the ‘stunning disclosure.’ GO Ms. Nos. 270 and 42 were respectively issued on 27.12.2011 and 01.11.2012 under Section 4/1 and 5/1 of Land Acquisition Act, 1984. The GOs wanted to facilitate acquisition of 2,436 acres and 77 cents from Jeeru Kovvada, Tekkali, Kothapalelm, Ramachandrapuram, Gudem and a few other hamlets in Ranasthalam mandal. Mr. Rao said acquisition should be taken up only as per 2013 Act after obtaining all the clearances and consent from the project affected people.

‘Under process’

When contacted, NPCIL Kovvada Project Director G.V. Ramesh told

The Hindu on Monday that they had submitted basic ground data to AERB and it was under review. Two chapters on basic ground data and other information were submitted to AERB on October 8, 2012 and other volumes were under preparation.

He said they were ready to produce any information as and when sought by AERB. The nuclear power plant will have generation three plus reactors with highly advanced safety features.