Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority
12/April/2017
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ATOMIC ENERGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 6268
ANSWERED ON:  12.04.2017
Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority
SHASHI THAROOR
 
Will the Minister of



ATOMIC ENERGY be pleased to state:-


(a)whether the Government is considering the enactment of a new law to establish a Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority of India;

(b)if so, the details thereof including any consultations that have been conducted and the proposed time period to enact the law;

(c)whether the Government would consider expediting the process of establishing such regulatory authority as the nuclear power capacity of India is expected to reach 10080 MW by 2018-19;

(d)if so, the details thereof; and

(e)if not, the reasons therefor?



ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH):

(a)Yes, Madam.

(b)In order to convert the functional independence of our national nuclear regulator, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), into de jure independence, the proposal for setting up a Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority (NSRA) has been under consideration. Accordingly, Government had introduced the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority Bill, 2011 in the Lok Sabha in September 2011, which was subsequently referred to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests. The amendments proposed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee were incorporated in the Bill in the year 2013. The Bill, however, could not be taken up for consideration before the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha. A fresh Bill similar to the one introduced earlier, is under examination. 

(c)to(e) Government is fully conscious of the importance of the role of regulator for promotion of safe use of nuclear and radiation technology. While the process of setting up of NSRA is underway, it may be noted that as the national nuclear regulator, AERB is fully competent and geared to meet the requirements of enforcing safety standards and regulations of the functioning of nuclear power plants in the country. AERB is functionally independent from the Government and the facilities it regulates, and has adequate powers with respect to its mandate of enforcing safety regulation of nuclear and radiation facilities.


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