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The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, reviewed the situation at Madras Atomic Power Station, Kalpakkam. The meeting was attended by officials of the Department of Atomic Energy and the Prime Minister’s Office. The DAE officers briefed the Prime Minister on the situation at Kalpakkam, where Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission is personally supervising the operations.
Both Units at MAPS are completely safe and there is no concern with regard to any radiation release. The water in sea water pump house at MAPS rose as a result of the rise in sea water level leading to submergence of sea water pumps. Unit No. II of Madras Atomic Power Station, which was operational, was stopped and brought to safe shut down status. Unit Number I was already in safe shut down state for long term rehabilitation activities.
There is no need for concern about radiation release from any facility at Kalpakkam Site. There have been no casualties in the MAPS power plant area.
Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor: Construction work at this project has just commenced. Concreting of raft at the bottom of the excavated pit was in progress. The pit got flooded as a result of tsunami. The construction work will restart after dewatering and investigations, as necessary. One body was found in the foundation pit of PFBR.
Residential Colony: Parts of DAE township that are adjoining the seacoast have suffered the impact of tsunami tide. Water and slush gushed in some of the buildings. Some of the people who where nearer the coastline got caught in the tidal wave leading to fatalities. Among them 5 are members of the DAE staff.
A camp has been opened in Anupuram part of the DAE Colony to temporarily take care of those needing relief support. Medical support has been mobilized. The water and electricity supplies in the affected areas have been resumed.
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