No leak at Kaiga nuclear plant, nothing to worry: PM
By Manish Chand, IANSMonday, November 30, 2009
ABOARD AIR INDIA ONE - Amid apprehensions about radiation contamination at the Kaiga nuclear plant in Karnataka, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has denied any radiation leak and said there was nothing to worry about”.
“I have been briefed about it, it is a small matter of contamination and is not linked to any leak, Manmohan Singh told reporters accompanying him on return from Trinidad and Tobago Sunday night.
There is nothing to worry. All our systems are intact and under control. An inquiry has been ordered, he said.
Initial investigation into radiation contamination at the Kaiga atomic power plant has disclosed that it was possibly an act of mischief and not a leak or security breach.
Investigators on Monday questioned employees in the operating area of the Kaiga plant after a preliminary probe suggested “internal sabotage” for the radioactive contamination of drinking water at the high-security complex.
Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, said in New Delhi that the government was taking the issue very seriously as it was a breach of some security measures.
Around 55 employees of Kaiga had to be hospitalised after drinking water contaminated with radioactive Tritium (heavy water) on Nov 24. Most of them have been released after treatment.
