Atomic power stations in quake-hit North India safe: NPCIL

India's nuclear power reactors at atomic power stations in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are safe after an earthquake of 5.7 magnitude on the Richter scale jolted several parts of North India today.

India's nuclear power reactors at atomic power stations in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are safe after an earthquake of 5.7 magnitude on the Richter scale jolted several parts of North India on Monday.

HT Image

"They (the two Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors each of 220MW at the Narora Atomic Power Station) capacity are operating at power levels 175 MW and 130 MW respectively", N.Nagaich, Executive Director, Corporate Planning and Corporate Communication of Nuclear Power Corporation of India, said.

"The reactors (in Bulandshahr in UP) are safe and continue to operate safely," N Nagaich, Chief Executive, said.

The epicenter of the earthquake was about 500km away along the Indo-Nepal order, Nagaich said.

He also said the nuclear power reactors located at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan were also unaffected by the tremors and remain safe.

The earthquake intensity at Narora and Rajasthan nuclear power plants was lower than the operating design based on which the equipment and systems of these power plants have been designed, Nagaich added in a release.

His remarks assume significance as questions were raised about the safety of Indian nuclear power plants from effects of quake and tsunami in the wake of the nuclear disaster in Japan.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had last month assured Parliament that all Indian atomic power plants were safe and yet he has ordered a review of their safety aspect in the backdrop of Japan's experience.