This was stated in a counter by the then Commissioner of Revenue Administration, K Gnanadesikan, to a PIL by one M Vetri Selvan, seeking a direction to the central and state authorities to implement the National Disaster Management Guidelines on nuclear and radiological emergencies in and around the atomic power station.
Gnanadesikan said the plant and site emergencies were handled by the site committee. The off-site emergency was handled by the district administration which included sheltering and evacuation. Offsite emergency drills were conducted once in two years to create and ascertain awareness levels.
All doctors and paramedical staff of the surrounding villages were imparted awareness training prior to carrying out the exercise. The last such drill was done on July 13, 2011 by the National Disaster Management Authority.
The official submitted that the guidelines on management of nuclear and radiological emergencies laid down by the NDMA were being implemented in a phased manner. The counter also detailed the medical preparedness of the plant as per the NDMA guidelines.