George Iype

The Madras Atomic Power Station
In 1986, two years after the MAPS was commissioned, the inlets of both its reactors cracked. Zircalloy pieces were found in the moderator pump. In 1988, MAPS was shut down after heavy water leaked, exposing workers to radioactivity. Again, in 1991, tonnes of heavy water burst out from the moderator system exposing workers to high radioactivity. The emergency cooling systems are said to be inadequate. Heavy water leakage is frequent in this nuclear power station.

The Narora Atomic Power Station
In 1993, a major fire broke out in NAPS. It was triggered by broken turbine blades. Fortunately, the accident was handled efficiently, or else the fire could have led to a meltdown of the reactors and an explosion.

The turbine blades were manufactured by the US-based General Electric Company. It had found an error with the blades and provided the Department of Atomic Energy an alternative design. But the DAE never took any action. Soon after the fire, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board ordered the closure of all heavy water reactors in the country.

The Rajasthan Atomic Power Station
The RAPS reactors developed innumerable problems and were de-rated from 220 MWe to 100 MWe. In 1976, the reactors flooded due to construction errors. The emergency core cooling system got obstructed, leading to a near meltdown. Again, the reactors were flooded in 1982. In 1992, four of its eight pumps caught fire. But despite such problems, the RAPS reactors continue to function without high-pressure emergency core cooling system.

The Tarapur Atomic Power Station
The Tarapur reactors, commissioned in 1969, are the oldest in the country and the world. There are many serious problems associated with the two reactors. Extensive tube failures have already resulted in the de-rating of the reactors from 210 MWe to 160 MWe. Both the TAPS reactors share the same emergency core cooling system. Experts warn that the reactors can meltdown.

The Kaiga Atomic Power Station
A faulty design led to the collapse of a concrete containment dome in 1994, exposing the workers to radioactivity. Then floodwater entered the condenser pit and turbine building basement. The accident resulted in four year's delay in commissioning this power station.