Is Our Nuclear Regulator Independent Enough?
Author:
First published in Sanctuary Asia,
Vol. 31
No. 3,
March 2011
Former AERB chief A Gopalakrishnan is one of them. He says it is nonsense to believe the present AERB structure is up to the job.
The debate was set off by Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh's suggestion, in the wake of the Japan's nuclear crisis, of an independent regulatory body for the sector.
Many at the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Indian Nuclear Society and Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC), have strongly argued the AERB is best-placed to grant, renew, withdraw and revoke consent for nuclear and radiation facilities.
Gopalakrishnan and some others who do not want to be named say Jairam is correct and both AERB and DAE would always protect the interests of NPC as an utility. Read the full report here.
Source: Sanjay Jog, Business Standard, Mumbai.
