Amid the ongoing debate over a need for an independent regulatory set up for India’s nuclear sector, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) said it has been independent in exercising its decision-making powers in matters of regulation and safety.
The regulatory board said, “A key test of the effectiveness of independence and autonomy of a regulatory body is its ability to take enforcement actions. In the past 27 years, there has not been a single instance when the decision of AERB has been challenged. There have been several instances when AERB has taken enforcement actions against units of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).”
AERB’s view is crucial, especially when the Centre has announced that it would bring in a special bill for an independent regulatory set up for the nuclear sector. Similarly, the minister of state for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh, former AERB chairman A Gopalakrishnan and anti-nuclear bodies have called for an independent nuclear regulator.
AERB secretary R Bhattacharya told Business Standard, “AERB is a independent body. There is a three-tier review system. Besides, committees comprise one third each of members from AERB, non-utilities and utilities. AERB was created in November 1983 by an order under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. The government however, wants to give a legal status by an Act.”
He said the board has adequate scientific and technical personnel to conduct safety review according to well-defined procedure. AERB, apart from its own expertise, draws on the technical support and expertise available in other institutions in specific area, including Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research and other academic institutions.
Bhattacharya recalled that AERB has taken enforcement actions against DAE units in the past, which comprises suspension of the civil construction activities related to the inner containment domes of Kaiga unit II and units III & IV of the Rajasthan Atomic Power project in 1994, subsequent to the failure of the inner containment dome of unit I of the Kaiga project. AERB lifted the hold only after satisfactory resolution of related safety matters.
In 2004, there was an incident involving failure of reactor regulating system resulting in unintended increase in reactor power one of Kakrapar atomic power station one. Subsequently, both the units were shut down and restart was permitted only after ascertaining the satisfactory implementation of corrective measures, including re-training and re-licensing of key operating staff and station management.
In the same year, AERB suspended the operations of plants of Nuclear Fuel Complex following deterioration in the civil structures of one of the chemical plants. The process operations were later relocated to a new building. In 2007, the AERB withdrew the construction license of units V & VI of the Rajasthan atomic power project when it found poor industrial safety status. It lifted the hold only after Nuclear Power Corporation ensured enhanced safety arrangements.
