UP proposes to increase Narora nuke plant capacity

Even as the Indo-US nuclear deal is yet to be ratified by the American Congress and the consequent agreement with the 45 nation nuclear suppliers group yet to be signed for supply of nuclear fuel, Chief Minister Mayawati has staked claim for Uttar Pradesh's share in nuclear power to be generated in India.

The Uttar Pradesh government has proposed the Centre to increase the capacity of the Narora nuclear power plant by at least 2,000 Mw. The plant is managed by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL). The Narora plant has two pressurized heavy water reactors with 220 Mw each, making its installed 440 Mw. The first reactor was commissioned in January, 1991 and the second in July, 1992.

The Narora atomic power station, located in Bulandshahar district in UP, is the first standardised pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) designed in India. Last year, the plant was awarded ISO-14001 certificate for its environmental management system. NPCIL has 12 nuclear reactor units with a total installed capacity of 2,280 Mw and 2 units of 220 MW each and 2 units of 500 MW each are under construction.

Official sources said the state government with the demand for the increase in capacity of Narora nuclear power plant has also offered to all provide logistical and infrastructural support like water for the expansion project. The state government has also offered to bear expenditure on the new infrastructure needed for the expansion project.

Close on the heels of demanding a huge package of special assistance of Rs 80,000 crore from the Centre, the state government has prepared another list of major projects to be placed before the Centre.

The list was scheduled to be placed before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his proposed visit to the state capital on August 8, which has since been cancelled. The prime minister is likely to visit UP, this month.

The UP government has proposed to the Centre to include at least one town of UP in its scheme for taking up the power distribution by one of its navratna company, notably the NTPC.

The UP government has also requested the Centre to elevate few more highways in the state as national highway which may ultimately be taken up by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for upgradation.

The UP government has also urged the Centre to set up at least one medical institution in UP on the patterns of the AIIMS in Delhi. For the development of eastern UP, another major project is the revival of the closed fertiliser factory in Gorakhpur. If the Centre agrees to the proposal then it will be a new plant which will be gas based. Official sources said the old plant is obsolete and the factory can be revived only if a new plant is installed.