New Delhi: A greenfield facility of Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) coming up in Rawatbhata, Kota, Rajasthan is in advanced stages of completion and is expected to be operational soon, said said Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh while replying to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. “A greenfield facility of Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) is being setup at Rawatbhata, Kota, Rajasthan, consisting of PHWR Fuel Fabrication Facility (PFFF) and Zircaloy Fabrication Facility (ZFF)” to produce 500 TPY of fuel tubes with an outlay of Rs 4,256.20 crore. It is in advanced stages of completion at Rawatbhata, Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan, which is about 50 Km away from Kota,” he said.
“There are no discrepancies in operational safety of nuclear power plants. The Nuclear power plants are operated by highly trained personnel licensed by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), in line with laid down procedures These procedures are periodically reviewed and upgraded as required,” Dr Singh told the House.
The Union Minister of State for Department of Atomic Energy shared that in a bid to ensure the well-being of those residing in proximity to these facilities, extensive epidemiological surveys have been conducted.
The Minister categorically mentioned that reputed local medical colleges carry out health assessments for employees and their families living in nearby townships and villages. Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, a leading cancer research center, analyses the data, he told the House. These comprehensive studies have conclusively established that the operation of nuclear power plants poses no adverse effects on the surrounding populations, he added.
Highlighting the country’s commitment to advancing its nuclear capabilities, Dr Singh shared that there are currently nine nuclear power reactors with a total capacity of 7,300 MW under construction and plans are in place for 12 more reactors, underscoring a robust expansion strategy.
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