Against the backdrop of fear expressed in the country, particularly after the recent nuclear crisis in Japan and Germany deciding to dismantle it all nuclear power generating installation by 2022, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened a special meeting on Wednesday to discuss issues relating to safety and security of existing and proposed nuclear installations in the country.
Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) revealed that top officials of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the chairman of nuclear energy commission, senior officials of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and Department of Atomic Energy would attend the meeting.
The issues, which are likely to be taken up for discussion, include installation of dosimeters (hi-tech radiation-measuring gadgets) in 35 large cities and linking homes loans and other infrastructure lending to national disaster preparedness norms.
The meeting will also discuss fast tracking of other steps like creation of disaster response forces in places in addition to existing four and procurement of special radiation-detection vehicles.
Sources said, the Prime Minister would also take stock of guidelines of management of nuclear and radiological emergencies issued by the NDMA.
Among the various steps to be considered as part of the chemical, biological, radiological nuclear response and rescue preparedness is a project for installation of dosimeters in 1,000 police stations in 35 cities having population of more than 10 lakh.
Dosimeters are hi-tech gadgets which measure an individual’s or an object’s exposure to something in the environment, particularly to a hazard inflicting cumulative impact over long periods of time or over a lifetime.
The meeting will also review functioning of National Defence Response Force (NDRF) whose four battalions are stationed in Noida (outside Delhi), Kolkata (West Bengal), Arakkonam (Tamil Nadu) and Pune (Maharashtra).
The meeting may also discuss creation of six more battalions of the force and it is expected that the proposals could be fast-tracked.