The Real Costs of Nuclear Power

Dr. Sanghamitra Gadekar Dr. Surendra Gadekar

Sampoorna Kranti Vidyalaya Vedchhi District: Surat Gujarat

Democracy and Development

Democracy means people's choice Choice needs to be an informed choice. Both benefits and costs need to be well understood. All forms of electricity generation have costs that need to be paid

The experience of sixty years of development has shown that some have lost and some others have gained.

Can Nuclear Energy Fulfil Indias Future Energy Needs? Electricity and Energy are not the same In no country is electricity penetration of the economy more than 30%. In India it is at present 11%.

Nuclear energy can only meet some of the electricity needs. At best it can be an answer to only a third of the

Nuclear is not the way towards Energy Security

Indian ores are the poorest being mined anywhere in the world For nuclear expansion there is no alternative but import of uranium Imports come attached with strings

Nuclear Dreams Dependent on Unknown Technology

Breeders and Thorium
Not successfully demonstrated anywhere in the world Far more expensive than the present once through cycle
More dangerous in safety terms

Cultural Characteristics of the Instrument

Disregard for proper procedure Lies and Misinformation Galore Discrimination against low wage workers A propensity for shoddy work

Disregard for Proper Procedure Even before 123, Nucleocrats are off their marks and running wild Prepare EIA. Invite comments. Hold public hearing. Make financial outlays. Issue notices under section 4(1). Get objections. Negotiate prices. Issue further notices... People have already been served with land acquisition notices under section 17 (Emergency provisions) with no right to appeal

Lies and Misinformation Galore

Preliminary surveys are conducted under false pretenses Sanavada: Granite roads so that tanks can roll on easily into Pakistan Loharki (Pokran): Oil exploration

Maadban (Jaitapur): Bauxite exploration

Two Contradictory Statements

The GOI has sanctioned 2X1000 MW LWR type reactor units at Madban as Jaitapur NPP. The type of units is not yet decided and hence cost figures are not available. 17.7.07

It is proposed to install 6X1650 MW capacity PWR units at the Jaitapur site to harness nuclear power. May '07

Innocuous Zone IV

Proposed Jaitapur site is not earthquake prone. 88 quakes of intensity > 3 have been recorded during the period 1986-2005 In 1993 there was a quake of intensity 6.3 and a further two of intensity > 5.1 In 2000 there were two shocks of intensity 5.2 and one of intensity 5 The Koyna shock of 1967 at the site was of intensity 6.5

Lies and Misinformation Galore

The land at the proposed Jaitapur site is government owned and is barren. Horticultural land nil. If such is the case then how come 427 families have been served with land acquisition notices and compensation of Rs 127620 for losses suffered by the mango crop was paid in 2005.

Discrimination Against Low Wage Workers and Villagers

The officers' colony is always located 10 kms from the plant site. They along with other operating staff commute daily to work. The construction workers colony will be located just 1.6 km from the reactors. There will also be no displacement of villagers since there are none housed within 1.6 km. It is perfectly safe to live just outside the 1.6 km perimeter.

Discrimination Against Contract Workers

Contract workers do the most dangerous and dirty jobs but are not entitled to any benefits enjoyed by salaried employees. Most disgracefully they do not get admission to the plant hospital or any other medical benefit.

Shoddy Work Practices

Shoddy Work Practices

Dirty and Dangerous

According to the Tarapur Nuclear Power Station Annual Performance Report for the year 1985 radiation levels in various parts of the reactor building were ten to five hundred times higher than what was expected by design. This situation had prevailed for many years. The radiation levels in the turbine building were 1.5 to 2 times higher than expected. They were six to eight times higher in the radwaste building.

Routine Emissions
Year
Tritium

(TBq)

Pickering (4320 MW)

Tritium found in 2-20 km in Bq/m3

RAPP
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 661 1121 1028 1471 2566 1463 908 2.6 1.1 1.3 0.9 1.0

Pickering

22 17

Emergency 'Preparedness'

In case of off-site emergency needing evacuation it is planned to take the whole population of Mandvi (> 15000) to a primary school in Mangrol that cannot hold even 200 packed like sardines

Pre-operational Environmental 'Surveillance'

Comparison of population and number of households of some villages between paper published by BARC and local panchayat sarpanches of the concerned villages
No. of Houses 87 72 153 159 Population Panchayat 891 1491 1240 1259 No. of Houses 229 342 294 296

Village

Population BARC 2007 Maadban 536 Jaitapur 297 Tulsundewadi 670 Dale 658

Consequences: Jaduguda
A Significant Rise in Congenital Deformities
Nearby Villages Total Number of Houses Surveyed 920 Distant Villages 469

Male s
Total Population Persons older than 35 years Persons > 35 with congenital deformity Persons <= 35 with congenital deformity Total Number of congenital 2602 594 2 33

Female s
2548 624 1 27 7 32

Males Females
1286 289 1 6 0 7 1206 310 2 4 1 7

Persons with multiple deformities 13 54

Jaduguda: Respiratory Problems

National average of TB: 187/100,000

Permissible exposure limit (PEL) for silica dust in India is 1.5 times that allowed in USA Risk of silicosis is estimated to be 77% for a lifetime exposure to silica at PEL Not a single case of silicosis diagnosed by UCIL doctors amongst uranium workers
Uraniu m Worker s Nearby villages 603 U Workers with TB U NonWorkers U Nonworkers with TB 11 (242/10000 0) 8 (310/10000 0)

25 (4146/10000 0) 0 (0/100000)

4547

Distant Villages

13

2479

Dead Men Do Tell Tales

Of the 20 deaths amongst children (< 20 years) in villages near Jaduguda, there were 13 males and 7 females. 8 had deformities. Of the 78 deaths amongst adults (>= 20 years) in villages near Jaduguda, there were 53 males and 25 females. While death due to chronic lung disease is just 12% amongst women, it is a huge 41.5% amongst men.

Rawatbhata

Rawatbhata: Solid Tumours

Rawatbhata

Extraordinary rise in congenital deformities Miscarriages, stillbirths and one day deaths of new born babies significantly higher Significant increases in chronic diseases especially amongst young Solid tumours significantly higher People die eleven years younger Significantly lesser number of households with electricity connections

Not Just Statistics

Gandhar

Sumitra

Nandalalji

Dhapobai

Nandakuvar

Badri

Munni

Dinesh

Pappu

Banwari

Guddu

Ramdayal