A high-level committee, appointed by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) in the aftermath of the Fukushima incident, has expressed satisfaction over prevailing measures for safeguarding nuclear reactors, even as it proposed "back-up" steps to raise the safety level.

"We have submitted our report to the AERB this weekend and most of the safety features with the Indian nuclear plants are satisfactory but still we have suggested for back-up safety features as a matter of abundant caution," Nuclear Safety Review Committee (NSRC) chairman S K Sharma told PTI.

"We have suggested back-up provisions to feed water for reactor steam generator and coolants and for Tarapur Atomic Power Plants units 1 and 2, which are boiling water reactors almost similar to Fukushima reactors. We have suggested back up water to the emergency condenser for ensuring uninterrupted cooling of the reactor in case of a station blackout," Sharma said.

The NSRC has proposed setting up an emergency facility at each of the nuclear reactor sites as one of the measures. The facility would comprise of a separate building with provisions for continuous communication, feeding, rest room for engineers and others who are on emergency duty, he said.

Another suggestion of the Committee includes a provision for setting up additional air-cooling generators and portable generators to overcome station blackout in case of an accident like that of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants in Japan, which were hit severely by a major earthquake followed by an unprecedented tsunami on March 11 this year.

On the assessment experience, Sharma said Indian nuclear industry and AERB always carry out safety review following any incident/accident reported in the world. Post Fukushima is one such exercise and the Committee suggested few steps to the Board, he said.

Talking about another problem faced at Fukushima--tackling of the spent fuel storage during the station blackout--Sharma said "in the older Indian reactors like Tarapur units 1 and 2, Rajasthan units 1 and 2, Madras Atomic Power Station Units 1 and 2, the spent fuel can remain inside water (pool) for one week without any cooling or make up for the pool water".

Whereas in the newer reactors from Narora atomic power reactors this period extends to almost one month, he said.

"The situation is satisfactory but suggested for backup," Sharma said.

The NSRC chairman also pointed out that NPCIL which had its own internal review has already made interim arrangements towards fulfilling some of the recommendations and further work is being carried out.