Karnataka police for joint probe into Kaiga plant incident

Karnataka police today said the complaint made by Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant officials alleging possible mischief in the radiation contamination of drinking water cooler was not sufficient to initiate a probe and favoured a joint investigation into the incident.

"We have asked them (plant authorities) for a copy of the (ongoing internal) inquiry report as only when we can go through it we can ascertain whether there is criminal angle to the matter and can assist them in investigation", Uttara Kannada District SP Raman Gupta told PTI.

"The station director of Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant, JP Gupta in a letter addressed to me, has termed the incident as a 'possible act of mischief' which is not sufficient for us to assist in the investigation process," he said.

"Since it is very technical matter, it is very difficult to understand the standard operating procedures and only a copy of the (inquiry) report can help us to work on some leads...We have to work jointly on the matter," Gupta added.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson at the plant, refusing to divulge any details, said that the investigation by the nuclear experts team was underway. The team was also questioning employees present in the operating area on the intervening night of November 23-24.

The team is probing last week's incident in which about 50 employees working in the first maintenance unit of the plant were treated for increased level of tritium after they consumed water from water cooler kept in the operating area on November 24.