VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh is inching closer to build the nuclear power plant (NPP) which was rejected by West Bengal. To set up the plant, the state government has shown four sites to Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) between Kavali in Nellore district and Ramayapatnam in Prakasam district.

Significantly, the techno-economic feasibility studies for selecting a suitable site has already begun. Teams from Karnataka-based National Institute of Rock Mechanics (NIRM) have already collected soil samples from the four locations. After the feasibility report is submitted to the Union government, the site selection committee of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) will visit the sites and finalise on any one. Within a year, the site should be finalised. The government is expected to hand over at least 2,000 acres to the NPCIL .

The plant is going to be built in collaboration with the Russian government. It may be recalled that the nuke plant was first supposed to come up at Haripur in West Bengal. However, NPCIL changed the location after encountering stiff resistance from the locals. Now, the plant is supposed to come up in south coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Russia's Rosatom will build two water-water energetic reactors of 1,000 MW each in the first phase. There are plans a total of six such reactors.

Temperature, humidity, water, rainfall, tectonics and other parameters will be studied as part of feasibility studies.

