Nuclear Issues
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YEAR 2011 Select Questions and Answers from the Indian Parliament on Nuclear Issues Compiled by Nupur Brahma Centre for Nuclear & Arms Control 1, Development Enclave, Rao Tula Ram Marg, New Delhi-110010 Visit us: www.idsa.in Nuclear and Arms Control Centre GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 392 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2011 SAFETY ACTION PLAN OF IAEA *392. SHRI SIVASAMI C.: SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE: Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state: (a) whether a number of countries have expressed their apprehensions and disapproved the safety action plan of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) prepared in the wake of Japan's Fukushima accident; (b) if so, the details thereof, country wise alongwith the objections raised by each of them and the reaction of the Government thereto; (c) whether the Government has apprised the international forum about India's stand in this regard and if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government has invited or proposes to invite expert teams from IAEA to review the safety and security of nuclear installations and assist the country in the matter; and (e) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the said review is likely to be made? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY) (a)to(e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House. STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 392 FOR ANSWER ON 21.12.2011 BY SHRI SIVASAMI C. AND SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE REGARDING. SAFETY ACTION PLAN OF IAEA (a) & (b) The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Action Plan on Nuclear Safety prepared in the wake of Fukushima (Japan) accident was adopted by consensus by the Board of Governors which was endorsed at the 55th IAEA General Conference in September 2011. (c) India participated in the deliberations at IAEA Board of Governors Meeting in September 2011 and endorsed the recommended action in the draft IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety. (d) & (e) A decision has been made to invite IAEA Missions namely, Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) and Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) for peer review of safety of nuclear power plants, and of the regulatory system, respectively. The Central Government is in touch with IAEA for scheduling the visit of the OSART Team in 2012. (http://www.dae.nic.in/writereaddata/lssq392_211211.pdf) Visit us: www.idsa.in 1 Nuclear and Arms Control Centre GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA , STARRED QUESTION NO. 396 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2011 REQUIREMENT OF URANIUM *396. SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: SHRI ZAFAR ALI NAQVI: Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has assessed the requirement of uranium during the Twelfth Five Year Plan period; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) the quantum of uranium likely to be produced and imported during the said period separately to meet the requirement; (d) whether the Government proposes to sign any agreement with Australia for the import of uranium; and (e) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY) (a)to(e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House. ***** STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 396 FOR ANSWER ON 21.12.2011 BY SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE AND SHRI ZAFAR ALI NAQVI REGARDING REQUIREMENT OF URANIUM (a) & (b) Yes, Sir. The Country’s Uranium requirement in the 12th Five Year Plan period is estimated to be 5057 tonnes. This includes 318 tonnes of low enriched uranium for Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS) -1&2 and Kudankulam (KK) -1&2. (c) As a part of long term Uranium procurement agreement entered with Russia and Kazakhstan, the quantum of uranium likely to be imported during the said period is as given below:- Country Quantity Type M/s TVEL Corporation, 1375 MT Natural Uranium Di- Russia Oxide Pellets M/s Kazatomprom, 1150 MT Natural Uranium Ore Kazakhstan Concentrate It is not in public interest to disclose details on uranium production in the country. (d) & (e) According to reports in media, the leadership in Australia has made statements to reverse the ban on export of uranium from Australia to India. However, no formal communication has been received by the Government of India from Australia, so far. It is not possible, as yet, to provide the time by which Uranium for our reactors will be available from Australia. (http://www.dae.nic.in/writereaddata/lssq396_211211.pdf) Visit us: www.idsa.in 2 Nuclear and Arms Control Centre GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 398 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2011 HEAVY AND LIGHT WATER REACTORS *398. SHRI NRIPENDRA NATH ROY: SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA: Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state: (a) the details of the Heavy and Light Water Reactors installed in the various Nuclear Power Plants in the country alongwith the power generated by these reactors, separately during the current five year plan; (b) the per unit cost of production of nuclear energy in the country; (c) whether nuclear energy is costlier in the country than that in other developing countries; and (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to bring down the cost of nuclear energy? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY) (a)to(d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House. ****** STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 398 FOR ANSWER ON 21.12.2011 BY SHRI NRIPENDRA NATH ROY SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA REGARDING HEAVY AND LIGHT WATER REACTORS (a) The present installed nuclear power capacity of 4780 MW in the country comprises of two Light Water Reactors (LWRs) with a capacity of 320 MW and eighteen Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) with a capacity of 4460 MW. The generation from LWRs and PHWRs during the current five year plan upto November 2011 has been 11569 Million Units and 86918 Million Units, respectively. (b) The average tariff of nuclear power in the year 2010-11 was 2.49 per unit. (c) No, Sir. (d) Does not arise. (http://www.dae.nic.in/writereaddata/lssq398_211211.pdf) Visit us: www.idsa.in 3 Nuclear and Arms Control Centre GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4401 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2011 TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE 4401. SHRI NARAHARI MAHATO: SHRI NRIPENDRA NATH ROY: Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state: (a) the details of the scheme for sharing of hospital income in Tata Memorial Centre; (b) the objectives behind the scheme; and (c) the total amount shared with doctors under the scheme during the last three years and the current year? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY) : a) The Sharing of Hospital Income (SHI) Scheme is in operation in Tata Memorial Centre(TMC) since 1948. Based on the principle of high volume services for lower strata patients with quality treatment, 60% of the patients in TMC are treated either totally free or with 80 to 90% subsidy. The amount generated from clinical services to private patients (which is only 40% of the total patient load) is shared. The sharing of the income is restricted to senior medical faculty with graded payment based on seniority. The scheme of payment of Non Practicing Allowance (NPA) which is paid to the medical doctors in Government Hospitals, was introduced in TMC in 1965 and if a doctor opts for SHI he will not be entitled for NPA, with consequent reduction in pensionery benefits. b) The objective of the Scheme is to retain top level expert medical faculty, which is very much in short supply especially in oncology; to fully utilize the scarce resource of trained medical faculty; making available the best talented medical personnel to fight the challenges of cancer and to provide their services to patients in TMC; to extend the best possible advanced medical education and hands on training to PG students and various organizations and to excel in research output. c) The total amount shared during the last three years is: 2008-09 .6.27 crore 2009-10 .6.33 crore 2010-11 .6.80 crore Current year .5.50 crore 95 doctors are eligible for SHI and the average amount received per month by each of these doctors works out to be about 60,000/- (http://www.dae.nic.in/writereaddata/4401-lsus211211.pdf) Visit us: www.idsa.in 4 Nuclear and Arms Control Centre GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4428 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2011 KUDANKULAM NUCLEAR POWER PLANT 4428. SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK: Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state: (a) the initial estimated cost and schedule fixed for the Kudankulam Nuclear Project; (b) the details of the time and cost overruns of various atomic power plants under construction including Kudankulam nuclear power plant; (c) whether the Government has received assistance/loan from any of the foreign countries for the Kudankulam power plant; and (d) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY) : (a) The approved cost of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, Units 1&2 (KKNPP 1&2 - 2 x 1000 MW) was 13,171 crore and were scheduled to be completed by December 2007 and December 2008, respectively.