Amendment in Atomic Energy Act
The Government has amended sections 2 and 14 of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 through the Atomic Energy (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which would enable Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) to form joint venture companies with other Indian PSUs to meet the additional funding requirements for further expansion of our nuclear power programme, while simultaneously exercising Government control over such joint venture companies. The said Bill was passed by Parliament in the Winter Session of 2015 and enacted on 31.12.2015. The security of nuclear power plants is governed by detailed codes and guides prescribed by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). AERB has rigorous process for reviewing safety and security aspects of nuclear power projects through multi-tier reviews, apart from periodic regulatory inspections, to ensure adherence to these requirements.
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 a reply to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha today.