CHENNAI, DEC 18 :A Site Emergency Exercise (SEE) was conducted at the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) centre, housing various atomic ad nuclear facilities, in Kalpakkam, about 70 km from here, to test the emergency preparedness and response plan on Wednesday.

A release from M. Seshaiah, Station Director, Madras Atomic Power STation (MAPS) and SEE Director, Kalpakkam DAE Centre, said the Kalpakkam Centre has multiple facilities functioning including the MAPS, operated by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (under construction by BHAVINI), Nuclear Recycle Board, etc.

The SEE is conducted at this Centre every year as part of its Emergency Preparedness and response plan and this exercise was conducted today.

The objective of this exercise is to check the preparedness of Kalpakkam DAE Centre and the Station Management in handling any remote emergency situation, despite the fact that such an occurrence is highly unlikely in a Nuclear Power Plant because of the “Defence in Depth” philosophy in the design and operation of the plant.

The conduct of this exercise was overseen by the Kalpakkam Emergency Committee (KEC) headed by Mr Seshaiah and conducted as an unannounced exercise.

The exercise was conducted as laid down in the Emergency Plan of Kalpakkam DAE Centre and demonstrated the following major response actions, Sheltering of site personnel in their respective units, Treatment of injured person, Administration of Stable iodine tablets (notionally toffees) to the personnel as a protective action,. Evacuation of all non-essential personnel out of the site, Mock decontamination of a contaminated vehicle within the site.

Senior officials including Directors of Kalpakkam DAE Centre units and observers from Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) observed the conduct of the exercise. The exercise involved participation of more than 9,000 personnel in the site who were evacuated.

The evacuation of the site personnel was accomplished within a time span of one-and-a-half hours.

The entire site emergency exercise was completed in three-and-a-half hours.

The exercise was successful in meeting the requirements stipulated by AERB for emergency preparedness at nuclear facilities.

It has also enhanced the confidence in the capabilities of the DAE in handling any events at nuclear facilities.