CHENNAI: India is storing its nuclear waste in stable mines and research is now underway at the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre to study whether rocks will be able to withstand mild radiations or temperatures in the long run to ensure the safety of the nuclear waste, according to S A Bhardwaj, director (technical) Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited.Bhardwaj said research is being conducted by BARC as well as by scientists across the world to ensure the safety of nuclear waste in the stable mines. Interestingly, the study to ensure the safety of nuclear waste gained credence after questions arose on who would be responsible if an earthquake or new ice age ruptured the rock seal and allowed radioactivity to percolate through the aquifers to the environment.Bhardwaj says of the 30 tonnes of fuel, only four per cent is used which generates 1.2 tonnes of waste which is equal to three oil drums of waste. “This waste is kept in stainless steel containers and can be stored deep in the mines for 10,000 years,” he said. Interestingly, while the world is beating its head over what could be done with the nuclear waste and countries like the US are having a rethink on their policy, India is considering the waste as a treasure for fast breeder reactors. “The irradiated fuel can be used for fast breeder reactors and we can process plutonium which can be essential for nuclear deterrence,” Bhardwaj added.India is a pioneer in fast breeder technology and the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research is being used as a benchmark by the International Forum for Generation IV reactors. Stating that by 2030 fast breeder reactors will be the future, he said that France and Japan are also working in this direction. He also said Nuclear Power Corporation of India is marking its silver jubilee this year and the chairman of NPCIL has termed it as the ‘Year of Education’.Earlier, S K Jain, chief medical superintendent of NPCIL, said 77 cases of cancer have been detected in NPCIL operating sites during the last 16 years and this is way below the national average. Dr V Rangarajan, head, department of bio-imaging Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, tried to allay fears over radiation and said there is no linkage between nuclear power and the occurrence of cancer and nuclear plants do not add to the natural radiation already existing in nature around these plants.
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