Indian nuclear reactors are safe, says ex-AEC chief

In view of apprehensions about the safety of nuclear installations in earthquake-hit Japan, former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Anil Kakodkar on Monday said Indian nuclear reactors are safe.

However, he said designs of reactors will evolve and improve the world over following the present crisis in Japan.

In the lecture on importance of nuclear energy, organised by VS Page Parliamentary Training Centre at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai, Kakodkar said the nuclear installation at Fukushima plant in Japan was essentially safe.

The blast happened there because cooling could not take place due to flooding caused by the tsunami, he said.

"However, the situation is still fluid and complete assessment will be available after some time," Kakodkar said.

He said Indian nuclear reactors are safe. "The seismic activity in Japan and India is very different. After the Bhuj earthquake, the Kakrapar plant (in Gujarat) was functioning and the Kalpakam plant (Tamil Nadu) was shut down after the tsunami in South India due to flooding. It re-started after a few days," he said.

He said following the Japan experience, designs of reactors the world over will evolve and improve.

"The World Association of Nuclear Operators monitors and modifies changes in designs and reviews experiences of nuclear reactors across the world," he said adding safety of nuclear reactors was an evolving process.