Nuclear power body plays down Jaitapur quake fears

A comprehensive seismicity study was conducted before selecting Jaitapur as a proposed site to set up a nuclear power plant, said an official statement issued by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) on Tuesday.

A comprehensive seismicity study was conducted before selecting Jaitapur as a proposed site to set up a nuclear power plant, said an official statement issued by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) on Tuesday.

HT Image

"The seismo-tectonic studies of the Jaitapur site were taken up during site selection between 2003 and 2005, much before the site was accorded 'in principle' approval by the Government of India in 2005," said N Nagaich, executive director, NPCIL.

In November last year, US geologist Roger Bilham and co-author VK Gaur published a paper that warned of an earthquake of magnitude higher than six on the Richter scale within the lifetime of the proposed 9,900 megawatt Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant in Ratnagiri district. Last week, Bilham was in the city and addressed a press conference explaining the research paper.

"The conservative approach used by NPCIL to arrive at the ground motion at Jaitapur well accommodates even higher-impact possible events with comfortable margins. Seismic aspects have adequately been addressed in Indian nuclear power plants, including at Jaitapur," said Nagaich adding that there are no micro earthquake events within 44 km of the site.