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CAG wonders why Atomic regulator has no legal status
At a time when the controversy over the Kudankulam nuclear plant continues, this indictment could add to the Government’s woes. Drawing a grim picture of the country’s nuclear energy regulatory mechanism, the Comptroller and Auditor General, in its latest report on Wednesday, maintained that the country’s off-site emergency response plans were inadequate.
It said off-site emergency exercises highlighted the inadequate emergency preparedness to deal with situations involving radiological effects from a nuclear power plant which may extend to public areas. “It was found that the approach road to the plant site of Tarapur Atomic Power Station was highly congested, which would pose serious problems in dealing with any future emergency,” the CAG said in its performance audit report on Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) which was tabled in the Parliament.
The CAG further said the consenting process and system for monitoring and renewal was weak with respect to radiation facilities. The AERB has also failed to prepare any safety policy. “Out of the 168 standards, codes and guides identified by AERB for development under various thematic areas, 27 safety documents still remained to be developed,” the report said.
The auditor pointed out how despite nearly three decades after being set up, India’s nuclear regulator still doesn’t have a legal status and is neither strong nor independent. It said the AERB continued to be an authority subordinate to the Central Government and it also failed to prepare any safety policy for the country.
The regulator neither has the authority for framing or revising rules relating to nuclear and radiation safety nor can it decide on the quantum of penalties leave alone imposing them. The maximum amount of fine of `500 was too low to serve as a deterrent against infringements, it stated.
Countries like Pakistan have conferred legal status to their regulatory bodies, the CAG outlined even as it questioned the Government’s delay in according similar rights to AERB. The powers are delegated to the AERB by the Central Government.
The auditor said there was an urgent need for the Government to bolster the status of AERB if it was to qualify as an independent regulator in a sector which was likely to become increasingly important in meeting the country’s energy needs.
Pulling up the nuclear regulator, the CAG said it has not conducted 85 per cent regulatory inspections for industrial radiography and radio therapy units, which have a high radiation hazard potential.
At a time when the controversy over the Kudankulam nuclear plant continues, this indictment could add to the Government’s woes. Drawing a grim picture of the country’s nuclear energy regulatory mechanism, the Comptroller and Auditor General, in its latest report on Wednesday, maintained that the country’s off-site emergency response plans were inadequate.
It said off-site emergency exercises highlighted the inadequate emergency preparedness to deal with situations involving radiological effects from a nuclear power plant which may extend to public areas. “It was found that the approach road to the plant site of Tarapur Atomic Power Station was highly congested, which would pose serious problems in dealing with any future emergency,” the CAG said in its performance audit report on Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) which was tabled in the Parliament.
The CAG further said the consenting process and system for monitoring and renewal was weak with respect to radiation facilities. The AERB has also failed to prepare any safety policy. “Out of the 168 standards, codes and guides identified by AERB for development under various thematic areas, 27 safety documents still remained to be developed,” the report said.
The auditor pointed out how despite nearly three decades after being set up, India’s nuclear regulator still doesn’t have a legal status and is neither strong nor independent. It said the AERB continued to be an authority subordinate to the Central Government and it also failed to prepare any safety policy for the country.
The regulator neither has the authority for framing or revising rules relating to nuclear and radiation safety nor can it decide on the quantum of penalties leave alone imposing them. The maximum amount of fine of `500 was too low to serve as a deterrent against infringements, it stated.
Countries like Pakistan have conferred legal status to their regulatory bodies, the CAG outlined even as it questioned the Government’s delay in according similar rights to AERB. The powers are delegated to the AERB by the Central Government.
The auditor said there was an urgent need for the Government to bolster the status of AERB if it was to qualify as an independent regulator in a sector which was likely to become increasingly important in meeting the country’s energy needs.
Pulling up the nuclear regulator, the CAG said it has not conducted 85 per cent regulatory inspections for industrial radiography and radio therapy units, which have a high radiation hazard potential.
