Nuclear Power Plant at Kovvada, Srikakulam District and restriction of development activities

Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department - Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited - Declaration of different zones surrounding the Nuclear Power Plant at Kovvada, Srikakulam District and restriction of development activities in the said zones – Committee
Constituted - Orders – Issued.


MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION & URBAN DEVELOPMENT (H2) DEPARTMENT
G.O.MS.No. 186 Dated:06.09.2014
Read the following:-
1. G.O.Ms. No 42, Energy Department Dated:01-11-2012.
2. From Additional Chief Engineer, Kovvada NPP, NPCIL,
Visakhapatnam, Lr.No. NPCIL/VSP-KOVVADA/L/2014/122,
Dated:21-4-2014 and further note from the Chief Project
Engineer, Dated:28-04-2014.
                                    &&&&
O R D E R:-
Government of India in principle approved the setting up of
Nuclear Power Plant at Kovvada, Srikakulam District with APGENCO as the nodal agency for the Project. Accordingly in the reference 1st read above, the Government of Andhra Pradesh issued orders for acquisition of land for construction of the project and also issued notification declaring the areas of the villages/families that are likely to be affected under the
project.

2. In the reference 2nd read above, the Additional Chief Engineer, Kovvada Nuclear Power Plant, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, Visakhapatnam has reported that the area surrounding the project has to be defined as different zones as per the guidelines issued by the Environmental Impact Assessment Guidance Manual issued by the MoEF and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.

3. The following are the Zones around the project:

1. Exclusion Zone(EZ):
The exclusion zone area, where no public habitation is permitted, extends up to a specified distance around the plant. This zone is physically isolated from outside areas by plant fencing and is under the control of the plant management. The size of the Exclusion Zone around NPPs shall be such that the dose limits are met at the Exclusion
Zone boundary for the governing Design Basis Accident (DBA) by considering all radiation pathways including inhalation and ingestion doses and without taking any credit for emergency counter measures in the public domain. The size of the Exclusion Zone shall not be less than 1 km, from the Centre of the reactor. The Villages namely Rama chandra puram, Tekkali & Gudem will fall under the Exclusion Zone

2. Sterilized Zone 
A sterilized area up-to 5 km around the plant shall be established by administrative measures. A sterilized area is the annulus around the exclusion area where, under adverse conditions, there may be extensive ground contamination, perhaps requiring import of fresh food and milk. Though the actual area involved may be small depending upon the plume spread, there might be an inhalation hazard and extensive ground contamination requiring emergency measures. In this area, natural growth is permitted but planned expansion of activities which will lead to an enhanced population growth are not allowed by administrative measures. In the annulus of four km radius around the plant, beyond the exclusion zone, only natural growth is permitted and developmental activities, which lead to growth of population, are restricted by administrative control. 5.0 km around the plant is a restricted area called Sterilized Zone. No new activity is permitted in this area. Existing activities, people, structures
continue to remain and any change need specific approval from local authority designated. 

The Villages namely 
1.Akkayapalem 
2.Chillapetarajam, 
3.Derasam,
4.Kotapalem, 
5.Jirukovvada, 
6.Maruvada, 
7.Mentada, 
8.N.Gajapati Rajapuram, 
9.Paparaopeta, 
10.Patharlapalle, 
11.Pathasudarapalem,
12.Sitarampuram, 
13.Surampet and 
14.Teppalavalasa  will fall under Sterilized Zone.

3. Emergency Planning Zone
The Emergency Planning Zone defined around the plant up to 16 km radius providing a basic geographic framework for decision-making on implementing measures as part of a graded response in the event of an emergency. Usually Township of employees of Nuclear Power Plant, Environmental Monitoring Laboratory, Schools, and Hospitals are located in this Zone.

4. Impact Assessment Zone
30 km radius zone called Impact Assessment Zone. Various studies are conducted to.
4. The administrative control to restrict the enhanced population growth is limited to Sterilization Zone. The Emergency Planning Zone and Impact Assessment Zone are for information to the public only.

5. Therefore, the Chief Project Engineer has proposed the following administrative measures to restrict the enhanced population growth in sterilization zone:

• No industrial development is allowed to take place in this zone.
• The institutions like specialized hospitals, educational institutions and specialized institutions are not permitted.
• The collector of Srikakulam district while deciding on requests shall seek the concurrence of the Kovvada Project Local Committee
o Proposals involving conversion of agricultural land to other
purposes
o Proposals involving Mining operations
o Construction of new buildings with Ground + 2 floors and
above.
• Constitution of Kovvada Project Local Committee:
One member shall be nominated by Chief Project Engineer, Nuclear Power Plant at Kovvada, Visakhapatnam. Other suitable committee members may be decided.

6. Government, after careful consideration of the proposal, in exercise of the powers conferred under the rule 3(K) of the building rules issued in the G.O.Ms.No.469, MA&UD Department Dt:18-11-2013, hereby restrict the developmental activities within the sterilized zone i.e., within 5.0 km
radius of around the Nuclear Plant at Kovvada, Srikakulam District, in partial modification of the orders issued in the G.O.Ms.No.408, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department, Department dated:8.8.1991.

7. Further, a committee with the following members is constituted to examine the cases of any residential development beyond G+1 floors and 6.0 m height and any non-residential activities.

1. Chief Planning Officer,
Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority, Visakhapatnam.

2. Chief City Planner,
Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, Visakhapatnam.

3. Chief Engineer,
Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority, Visakhapatnam.

4. Representative of the local authority,

5. Environmental authority, Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Revenue Divisional Officer concerned and.

6. The Project Engineer, Nuclear Power Plant at Kovvada Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited,  Visakhapatnam.

8. The Committee will examine all such proposals and make
recommendations to the Sanctioning Authority concerned to take a decision on the proposal.

(BY ORDER AND IN THE NAME OF THE GOVERNOR OF ANDHRA PRADESH)
Dr. D. SAMBASIVA RAO
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT