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Radiation safeguards in place: Ministry

Special Correspondent

Detailed study carried out by Environmental Survey Committee in Chennai

— File Photo: PTI

An aerial view of the USS Nimitz, one of the world’s largest aircraft carriers.

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to allay fears on the anchorage of nuclear-powered warship, USS Nimitz, off Chennai from July 1 to 5, the Defence Ministry said it had drawn on the experience of operating a nuclear submarine to put safeguards in place. These included clearance by an environmental committee, radiation monitoring by a ship stationed nearby, permitting USS Nimitz to move only during the day and establishing a “no-go” safety zone around it.

An Environmental Survey Committee (ESC) carried out a detailed survey at Chennai, and cleared the visit of USS Nimitz. “A stringent radiation monitoring protocol is in place which shall, at periodic intervals, monitor and analyse air and water samples. These activities shall be conducted under the ambit of a well-rehearsed radiation safety contingency plan under the stewardship of a Crisis Management Group and Crisis Management Cell, comprising defence and nuclear scientists, representatives of the Chennai Port Trust and the Navy.

The call by USS Nimitz is not the first by such a ship to an Indian port. In fact, the Navy operated the Russian-built nuclear submarine, INS Chakra, from 1988 to 1991. Additionally, nuclear-powered ships and submarines from France (four times), United Kingdom (once) and United States (five times) have visited Indian ports. Notable were two visits by French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle to Goa in 2004 and 2006.

A Defence Ministry spokesperson said the process of clearing a harbour for berthing of nuclear vessels evolved when the Navy inducted INS Chakra in 1988. This included a survey by an ESC set up by the Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister. A radiation safety contingency plan was also drawn up and implemented. In 2001, the Navy conducted the International Fleet Review, during which French nuclear submarine Perle berthed in Mumbai harbour for six days. For this, the ESC carried out a complete survey and examination of the harbour.

The spokesperson said the Defence Ministry had informed the ESC, which carried out a survey. In addition, the movement of USS Nimitz would take place only in good visibility and with escort tugs in attendance. No ship would be allowed to berth within a 200 m radius of the ship. However, this arrangement would be superfluous since the U.S. takes elaborate precautions, including establishing a sanitised zone, after the bombing of guided missile destroyer USS Cole while it was berthed at Aden in Yemen in 2000.

The monitoring of the water and air samples would be done by scientists from the Defence Research and Development Organisation, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and defence personnel.

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