Credentials of EIL questioned: NABET has not yet finalised EIL accreditation in nuclear sector

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 7, 2013: While many environmentalists have raised objections over the agency, which prepared Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed 6000 MW Mithi Virdi Nuclear Power Plant in Bhavnagar in Gujarat,  has till date not got any accreditation by the top central authority- National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET)  for nuclear projects, the same was confirmed officially by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) while answering a query by Vizag based former union energy secretary, EAS Sarma under RTI.

Sarma sought response from the NPCIL whether Engineering India Ltd (EIL) have necessary accreditation to conduct EIA for nuclear power plants. NPCIL, chief project engineer of the Mithi Virdi Plant, PM Shah, in his reply under RTI on March 6, that was accessed by Deccan Chronicle, said, “ Accreditation of M/s EIL for nuclear sector is under active considerations by NABET since March 15, 2010. As the requirements for accreditation in this sector are being discussed with the experts in the field and are not yet finalized by NABET. Hence, M/s EIL has not provided in the EIA report, valid NABET accreditation certificate for nuclear sector,”

EIL carried out study for NPCIL and evaluated potential impacts of the project and formulated environmental management plans for both the construction and operation phase of Mithi Virdi Nuclear Power Plant. EIL collected data within a ten-kilometer radius of the site over three seasons- summer, post-monsoon and winter from December 2010 to November 2011 to prepare its EIA report.

It was also mentioned in the reply that M/s EIL has carried out the updated EIA for Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) unit 3 to 6 in 2011-12, which was reviewed by CRZ expert appraisal committee, MoEF and based on their recommendations, MoEF granted CRZ clearance for KNPP 3 to 6. Considering their overall capabilities in the field of EIA, NABET has suggested to EIL to carry out EIA study for nuclear power projects in consultation with AERB, BARC and NPCIL.

“NPCIL has confirmed that EIL has not yet been accredited by the concerned agency. It is also evident that EIL's EIA for Kudankulam was not strictly by an accredited agency,” said Sarma.