Haryana government has shortlisted two locations for setting up its second nuclear power plant. The sites, Kitlana in Bhiwani and Balsamand in Hisar districts, were approved by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) in February this year and one of them will be finalised for setting up of the plant.
The state’s first nuclear power plant (4×700 mw) is coming up at village Gorakhpur in Fatehabad district. Two units of 700 mw each are likely to be ready by 2014 under the first phase.
Sanjeev Kaushal, managing director of Haryana Power Generation Corporation (HPGCL) apprised FE, ?In August last year NPCIL offered us to set up another nuclear power plant in the state and asked us to select sites for the same. A survey was conducted with the help of Ranchi based Central Mine Planning and Design Institute and we had shortlisted 6-7 sites for new power plants. But after scrutinising the sites NPCIL approved these two. Now the NPCIL team will conduct site inspections and check the feasibility of the project.?
Keeping in mind the recent mishappenings at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, the Indian government has constituted a high-powered committee to review the safety of nuclear plants in the country. HPGCL, being the nodal agency for the nuclear power projects in the state, has also constituted a work force at its own level. Besides, the International Atomic Energy Agency and WANO are also reviewing the nuclear plants in India. With the central government deciding to give 50% share in the power generated by nuclear power plants to the host state, its a win-win situation for the states to generate power through green energy at lower cost of production.
Kaushal further said that that sanction for the nuclear plant at Gorakhpur had been granted in 1984 by the Haryana government, and thereafter, successive governments had approved it. ?There is no political dispute about the location of the plant. Surveys were carried out in 2000-01, 2004 and 2007, and Section 4 was issued on July 29, 2010, information about which was published in various newspapers on August 14, 2010. There is a provision to issue Section 6 after a year, and it will probably be issued on July 28, 2011,? said Kaushal.
However, land about 1,503.4 acres would be acquired for this purpose out of which 1313.46 acres falls in Gorakhpur and Kajadhedi. ?About 38 acres is panchayati and shamalat land which is under government control.
