PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RADIOACTIVE WASTES

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) states that radioactive solid waste from nuclear power plants averages about 0.15 cubic metres per year per MW of capacity. All waste quantities and locations are reported to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). Safe management is governed by the Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes) Rules, 1987, which require AERB authorisation for effluent discharge and prescribe limits based on international norms. Waste is treated (gaseous, liquid, solid) using adsorption, filtration, ion‑exchange, vitrification, etc., and disposed in engineered trenches and storage facilities monitored continuously. No release of radioactivity or impact on public health has been reported. The framework aligns with IAEA guidelines and includes environmental monitoring labs at each plant.