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having a role in responding to a nuclear emergency. 5.3 HARMONIZATION OF EMERGENCY
Exercise spanned a wide spectrum of the response PREPAREDNESS PLANS OF NPP
functions that would normally take place during such
an emergency. The exercise evolved from the initial Successful demonstration of EPR plans is a mandatory
indications of a problem at the plant to subsequent requirement for issuing licence for operation of NPP.
notification of response organisations. The accident AERB ensures that necessary EPR plans are in place
scenario was not pre-informed to the responders and and they are successfully demonstrated before issuing
it was unfolded in the form of injects as the accident regulatory consent for First Approach to Criticality (FAC)
progressed. of NPP. AERB evaluates all the elements of the EPR
plans such as identification of emergency, classification,
Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) were decision making, notification, communication and
then activated as the scenario demanded. Response projected dose assessment, and ensures the periodic
organisations were asked to analyse the impact with revision of these plans.
actual environment and meteorological conditions.
Decision Support System (DSS) worked in real time During review and revision of plant EPR of few of
situation and determined the affected area according NPPs, AERB felt the need for harmonization of plant,
to prevailing meteorological conditions and actions site and offsite EPR plans of NPPs. Keeping this in view,
standard templates on plant and site EPR plans were
to protect the public were recommended to district prepared by NPCIL and all NPPs were asked to revise
authorities. The local administration and environmental their plant and site EPR plans accordingly.
survey team of DAE responded with physical movement
of various response teams to the most affected areas. The off-site EPR plans are being revised in line with
Response time of administration and medical team the identified roles and responsibilities of the respective
to reach the most affected area were assessed. The response organisations (utility & local authorities).
exercise progressed from Early to Intermediate phase Subsequent to the Disaster Management Act, 2005
with proper handover of responsibility after analysing and as per National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP,
need for public protection from plant management to 2019), the response plan in public domain for a nuclear
Radiation Emergency Response Director (RERD) at emergency shall be part of the integrated District Disaster
BARC under the supervision of DAE-CMG. Field survey Management Plan (DDMP) for emergency response
and sample analysis data was also given in the form of under an all hazard approach. In compliance with the
injects and process for taking decision in the early phase, same, the off-site EPR plan covering response actions
in the public domain is prepared by local authorities in
intermediate phase and for termination was verified.
coordination with the NPP. Hence the plan of the utility
Strengths and gap areas were identified, which shall be focused towards addressing the responsibility
would be used to finalize revised AERB policy on and arrangement necessary for effective technical
conduct of off-site emergency exercises. support and recommendation of protective action to
public authorities.
In line with above, templates for preparation of
respective off-site EPR plan were prepared and issued to
the district authorities and NPPs by respective agencies
(NDMA to District authorities and NPCIL-HQ to NPPs).
The template for offsite plan of NPPs was reviewed and
approved by AERB. The template includes a revised
overall response framework for off-site emergency to
ensure an effective and co-ordinated response. This
has been evolved through consultation among utility,
CMG-DAE, NDMA and AERB. The template also covers
various aspects of EPR plans including, classification,
declaration and notification of emergency, protection
strategy with focus on doing more good than harm,
public communication, infrastructure for decision
Demonstration of Decision Making Process by District making during emergency exercises, comprehensive
Authorities at the District Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) list of procedures for implementation of the emergency

AERB Annual Report 2019 69