after a decade-long hunt for a safe site for dumping nuclear waste, the Mumbai-based Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (barc) has zeroed in on two states Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, said K Balu, director of the Nuclear Recycle Group at barc.

"W e have identified 100 sq km in these states and wastes will be dumped within these areas,' he said. Balu said these sites were selected after conferring with agencies like the Geological Survey of India (gsi).

A vault will be dug 800 metres below the ground to hold all the wastes from India's nuclear facilities. An area of about 1 sq km will be needed to set up the repository, he said. According to Balu, there will be absolutely no chance of radioactivity escaping from the vault because multiple barriers will be constructed.