Karwar: National Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) and the local district administration officials’ jointly conducted offsite emergency mock drill at Kuchegar village near Kaiga Nuclear Power Station.
The exercise was a part of a mandatory regulatory requirement and preparedness of the district administration and other agencies about the actions to be taken in case of a nuclear disaster. The Uttara Kannada district administration and Nuclear Power Corporation updated about the measures to be taken during an off-site emergency. The exercise is carried out once in two years.
During the exercise, the members with expertise and all the officials concerned of the district administration carried out mock actions as per the approved emergency plan at Kaiga site.
During the mock exercise, the shift in-charge declared of leak from the nuclear power plant at 6.30 PM and relayed information to NPCIL and district administration officials. Immediately, the concerned swung into action at 7.43 PM and measure the extent of leakage and shifted the people affected at Kuchegar village to Gopal Nagar after sensing emergency. The zone marked for the mock drill comprised the areas within the 16 km diameter of the Kaiga plant covering a population of 25000. Kuchegar village is a hamlet which is within 9 km radius by arial distance from Kaiga site.
The affected people were provided with medical relief, food and safety during the operation with individual departments monitoring the situation closely.
The preparedness included counter measures such as sheltering and evacuation of the people in case of emergency.
Once normalcy was restored after leak was plugged, district administration received information from the plant during the mock drill.
Senior officials from the Kaiga power plant, deputy commissioner and other officials of district administration were present during the mock drill.
Kuchegar villagers oppose mock drill
When the mock drill was in progress, affected Kuchegar villagers vented their anger against the procedure complaining of their total neglect. The village has not seen any development nor the youth have been provided jobs, they alleged. Without providing relief for the livelihood of the affected, the exercise is of little benefit, they lamented.
