Executive Summary:
This document responds to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 486 regarding India's nuclear waste management system. It details the types and volumes of nuclear waste generated, safety protocols in place, disposal methods, and adherence to regulatory standards. The answer was provided on July 23, 2025, by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances Pensions and Prime Minister's Office.
Key Points / Main Content:
Waste Generation and Categorization:
* Low and intermediate-level radioactive wastes are generated at nuclear power stations during operation.
* These wastes are treated, concentrated, reduced in volume, and immobilized in materials like cement or polymers.
* Treated liquids and gases are diluted and discharged within stipulated limits set by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
* Annual generation of low and intermediate-level wastes from operating nuclear power stations has been approximately 1.25 lakh cubic meters and 130 cubic meters, respectively, over the last 10 years.
* During spent nuclear fuel (SNF) recycling, small amounts of low, intermediate, and high-level liquid radioactive wastes are generated.
* High-level waste is vitrified into glass, with approximately 0.2 m3 of vitrified waste produced per metric ton of Pressurised Heavy Water (PHWR) spent nuclear fuel.
Safety and Incident Reporting:
* No incidents involving the release of radioactivity from nuclear waste management facilities or accidents at waste management/interim storage facilities have occurred during the period in question.
Waste Disposal and Clearance:
* Radioactive nuclear waste is systematically treated, conditioned, and monitored before disposal at designated storage locations.
* There is no backlog of conditioned waste awaiting disposal.
* Low half-life solid waste is disposed of in engineered structures in Near Surface Disposal Facilities (NSDF) within the facility boundaries.
* All Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) sites have NSDFs except Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP), where waste is stored in engineered modules within the facility.
Safeguards and Procedures:
* Nuclear waste handling, treatment, storage, and disposal follow procedures and guidelines stipulated by the AERB, as per the Atomic Energy Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes Rules, 1987, and AERB Safety Code on Management of Radioactive Waste (AERBSCRW).
* AERB conducts periodic inspections to verify adherence to these guidelines.
* Facility management surveils handling and disposal areas.
* Environmental Survey Laboratories (ESLs) of BARC conduct environmental monitoring, with results indicating no buildup of radioactivity and annual doses below AERB limits.
* Comprehensive safeguards and established procedures ensure safe storage, handling, and disposal.
* Waste management practices are governed by regulatory standards to protect personnel, the public, and the environment.
* Waste is segregated by activity level, treated using appropriate techniques, and conditioned into stable forms for storage.
* Engineered storage systems with containment barriers, shielding, and leak detection are used.
* Waste handling uses remote or shielded systems where necessary, under strict radiological surveillance.
* Regular monitoring, safety reviews, and adherence to disposal protocols ensure continued safety.
Impact Analysis:
Department of Atomic Energy:
* Impact: Required to maintain and adhere to stringent waste management protocols, ensure the safety of disposal facilities, and continuously monitor environmental impact.
* Action Required: Continue to implement established procedures and guidelines, conduct regular safety reviews, and ensure compliance with AERB regulations.
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB):
* Impact: Responsible for setting and enforcing safety standards, conducting inspections, and ensuring the safe management of radioactive waste.
* Action Required: Continue to conduct periodic inspections, update safety codes and guidelines as needed, and ensure compliance with established regulations.
Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Operators:
* Impact: Responsible for the safe handling, treatment, storage, and disposal of nuclear waste generated at their facilities.
* Action Required: Adhere to AERB guidelines, implement waste management procedures, maintain NSDFs, and ensure continuous monitoring of waste storage.
Public:
* Impact: Affected by the safety and environmental impact of nuclear waste management practices.
* Action Required: Remain informed about nuclear waste management practices through public disclosures and reports, and engage with regulatory bodies and facility operators to address any concerns.
Key Entities Referenced
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board AERB: Regulatory body responsible for setting safety standards and monitoring nuclear facilities in India.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Safety Council BSC: Safety council within the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre responsible for safety guidelines.
Near Surface Disposal Facility: Facility for disposal of low half life solid waste from nuclear facilities.
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant KKNPP: A nuclear power plant located in Tamil Nadu, India, where waste is stored in engineered modules within the facility.
Atomic Energy Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes Rules, 1987: Rules established in 1987 governing the safe disposal of radioactive wastes in India.
AERB Safety Code on Management of Radioactive Waste AERBSCRW: Safety code provided by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board on the management of radioactive waste.
Environmental Survey Laboratories ESLs of BARC: Laboratories of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre that conduct environmental monitoring.
Pressurised Heavy Water PHWR: A type of nuclear reactor that uses heavy water as its coolant and moderator. Spent nuclear fuel of this type is processed to generate vitrified waste.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO – 486
ANSWERED ON 23/07/2025
NUCLEAR WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
486. SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-
(a) the total volume of nuclear waste, categorized as low, intermediate and high-level,
generated annually in India during the last ten years along with the projected waste
volumes based on planned capacity expansion;
(b) whether there have been any accidents, leaks or safety incidents have occurred at
nuclear waste management or interim storage facilities during the said period;
(c) the current status of clearance and disposal for nuclear waste including the total quantity
cleared so far indicating the locations where disposal has taken place or is planned and
any pending clearances; and
(d) the details of safeguards and procedures implemented to ensure safe storage, handling
and disposal of nuclear waste at these sites?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS
AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) The wastes generated at the nuclear power stations during their operation are of low
and intermediate radioactivity level. These wastes are appropriately treated,
concentrated and subjected to volume reduction. The concentrates are immobilized in
inert materials like cement, bitumen, polymers etc. and stored in specially constructed
structures (near surface disposal facilities) located at the site under monitoring. The
treated liquids and gases are diluted and discharged under continuous monitoring,
ensuring that the discharges are well within the stipulated limits set by Atomic Energy
Regulatory Board (AERB). The radioactivity level of the stored wastes reduces with
time and by the end of the plant life, falls to very low levels. The releases are also
monitored by AERB.The volume of low and intermediate level wastes generated from the operating
nuclear power stations annually during the last 10 years was about 1.25 lakh cubic
meter (m3) and 130 cubic meter (m3) respectively. The projections of waste
generation for future would depend on the actual capacity additions and technologies
adopted.
During the recycling of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) small amount of liquid radioactive
wastes are generated which are classified as low, intermediate and high level as per
the safety guidelines of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and Bhabha
Atomic Research Centre Safety Council (BSC). Current strategy for their
management involves treatment of intermediate level waste to convert it to low and
high-level wastes followed by immobilization of high level waste to vitrified glass.
Total volume of vitrified waste generated by processing one metric ton of Pressurised
Heavy Water (PHWR) spent nuclear fuel is around 0.2 m3.
(b) There has been no incident of release of radioactivity from Nuclear Waste
Management Facilities nor any incident/accident at the waste management
plants/interim storage Facilities during the said period.
(c) Radioactive nuclear waste is systematically treated, conditioned, and monitored prior
to its disposal at designated storage locations. This is a continuous process, and there
is no backlog of conditioned waste awaiting disposal at interim storage facilities.
The low half life solid waste from nuclear facilities is disposed in specially
constructed engineered structures in Near Surface Disposal Facility within the
boundary of facility. These disposal facilities are co-located near reactor/nuclear
facilities to avoid transportation of radioactive waste through public domain. All the
Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) sites have Near Surface Disposal of Radioactive Solid
Waste (NSDF) at the site except Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP), where
waste is stored in engineered modules within the facility.
(d) The nuclear waste handling, treatment, storage and disposal are carried out as per the
well laid down procedures and guidelines stipulated by the AERB in accordance with
the Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes) Rules, 1987 and therequirements of AERB Safety Code on ‘Management of Radioactive Waste
(AERB/SC/RW)’. The adherence to these is verified through periodic inspection
conducted by AERB. The handling and disposal area is kept under surveillance by the
facility management. The environmental monitoring is carried out by Environmental
Survey Laboratories (ESLs) of BARC. The results do not indicate any buildup of
radioactivity in the environment and annual doses are well below AERB specified
limits.
Comprehensive safeguards and well-established procedures are implemented to
ensure the safe storage, handling, and disposal of nuclear waste. Waste management
practices are governed by stringent regulatory standards and are designed to protect
operating personnel, the public, and the environment. Radioactive waste is segregated
based on its activity level, treated using appropriate techniques such as chemical
decontamination, absorption, ion exchange/membrane separations and volume
reduction, and then conditioned into stable forms suitable for storage. Engineered
storage systems with multiple containment barriers, radiation shielding, and leak
detection mechanisms are employed to prevent any release of radioactivity. Waste
handling operations are conducted using remote or shielded systems, wherever
necessary, and under strict radiological surveillance. Regular monitoring, periodic
safety reviews, and adherence to approved waste disposal protocols ensure continued
safety throughout the lifecycle of waste management.
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