Elevated levels of cesium still detected in fish off the Fukushima coast of Japan suggest that radioactive particles from last year’s nuclear disaster have accumulated on the seafloor and could con

The International Atomic Energy Agency and the Japanese government plan to set up a long-term research base in Fukushima to study ways to decontaminate radiation-tainted areas and dispose of radioa

The Supreme Court (SC) today asked the government what mechanism it will put in place to handle nuclear waste at the Kudankulam power plant once it becomes operational.

Health and environment are as important as is plant safety, says judge

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to spell out how nuclear waste/spent fuel will be handled or transported after the Kudankulam plant in Tamil Nadu becomes operational. A Bench of Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra on Wednesday wanted to know from the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), how it intended transporting the nuclear waste out of the plant and store it in a safe place without affecting environment.

The Supreme Court (SC) today asked the government what mechanism it will put in place to handle nuclear waste at the Kudankulam power plant once it becomes operational.

The Government may consider tighter environment and safety norms for the Kudankulam nuclear plant even as it insists that all current conditions are being strictly complied with.

Asked if a safety review was on the cards, given the Supreme Court’s statement on Thursday that the plant could be shut if the safety aspects were not satisfactorily ensured, Union Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said: “I am willing to consider [a re-look] in terms of safety. Right now, there is full compliance of all the conditions we imposed… We are very confident all conditions are being scrupulously followed.”

The safety of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant and storage of nuclear waste is of prime concern that should be addressed by the Union Government, the Supreme Court told the Centre on Thursday.

Hearing petitions relating to the plant, a Bench of Justices K. S. Radhakrishnan and Deepak Misra told Attorney-General G. E. Vahanvati, Solicitor-General Rohinton Nariman and Additional Solicitor-General Mohan Parasaran, “From the first day, we are saying that safety is the most important issue, people’s lives should be protected.”

M. Appavu writes to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

Former MLA of Radhapuram M. Appavu has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to stop the filling-up of enriched uranium fuel in the first reactor of Kudannkulam Nuclear Power Project until credible arrangements are made to send the nuclear waste to be generated at KKNPP back to Russia and adequate financial allocations are ensured to give compensation to radiation victims in case of nuclear mishaps.

Soon, “significant events” taking place during construction and commissioning of a nuclear plant will also have to be reported to Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).