Environmental impact assessment for the prototype fast breeder reactor

Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) has proposed to build a 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam which is located on the East Coast of the peninsular India. The proposed site has been approved by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). As per the Environmental Protection Act (EPACT) 1986, requirement the pre project an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) was carried by M/s MECON Ltd., Ranchi and submitted to the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), the competent agency which issues the objection certificate (NOC). Seeking opinion of the public on setting up of any developmental project for the issue of NOC has been made mandatory under the EPACT amendments of 1997. Keeping with this needs the first ever public hearing for a nuclear power plant in India was conducted for the PFBR. This paper highlights the results of the comprehensive EIA/EMP studies and summarises our experience of the public hearing and the lessons learnt therefrom. (author)