Atomic power station operated as per prescribed standards: TN

 Tamil Nadu government Tuesday submitted

before the Madras High Court that safety features, security

set up and emergency preparedness plans in the Madras Atomic

Power Station, Kalpakkam, near here, are designed and operated

as per the prescribed standards. 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.