The central government’s attitude of not promoting nuclear power generation plants in earthquake sensitive zone-5 areas may affect the plan to set up nuclear power reactors in Uttarakhand. The state government will contact the center in this regard. Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said that nuclear power plants will not be set up in the state or areas falling in earthquake sensitive zone-5 (areas with the most severe earthquakes). There is a plan to set up at least one nuclear power plant in other areas, so that the increasing consumption of electricity can be met. The state government has also decided to conduct a study with a view to setting up a nuclear power reactor. However, these reactors are proposed to be set up in relatively less earthquake sensitive areas in the state like Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar. It is a different matter that a large part of Uttarakhand falls under earthquake sensitive zone-5. Not only this, there is neither a sea place nor any sandy place in Uttarakhand. Such places are considered more suitable from the point of view of nuclear reactors. After this attitude of the central government, the steps taken by the state government in this direction may be halted. This issue will also be discussed in the board meeting of the Hydroelectric Corporation.
