NUCLEAR WASTE The wastes generated at the nuclear power stations during the operation in solid, liquid and gaseous forms are of low and intermediate radioactivity level. These are planned to be managed at the site itself. In this regard waste management facilities are planned to be set up at each of the sites. These wastes are appropriately treated, concentrated and subjected to volume reduction. The concentrates are immobilized in inert materials like cement, bitumen, polymers etc. and stored in specially constructed structures located at the site under monitoring. Typically, the quantity of low and intermediate level waste to be stored at site is about 0.15 cubic meters/year/MW. The treated liquids and gases are diluted and discharged under continuous monitoring, ensuring that the discharges are well within the limits set by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). The radioactivity level of the stored wastes reduces with time and by the end of the plant life, falls to very low levels. This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
