ndtv.com<\/a><\/p>\nIn a major accomplishment for India’s Department of Atomic Energy, the 220 MW nuclear reactor at Kaiga in Karnataka has completed a continuous run of 941 days to become the world’s longest running reactor without a shutdown in this marathon run.<\/p>\n
The earlier record of 940 days of continuous operation was held by a British reactor called Heysham-2, Unit-8 reactor, which set the benchmark in 2016.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called it a ‘major feat’ saying it was another world record by Indian scientists and engineers.<\/p>\n
Applauding the efforts, PM Modi tweeted, “Congratulations to all those associated with India’s nuclear energy programme. Their untiring efforts have enhanced India’s progress. The nation is proud of them.”<\/p>\n
During the stint, the indigenously designed Kaiga-1 nuclear power unit has been under continuous operation from May 13, 2016, and has generated revenues of\u00a0Rs.<\/span>\u00a01,500 crore.<\/p>\nThe twin Indian made units of Kaiga 1 and 2 were started in 2000 at a total cost of\u00a0Rs.<\/span>\u00a02,800 crore.<\/p>\nAccording to India’s Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), “this landmark demonstrates the excellence in design, construction, safety, quality and operation and maintenance practices of India.”<\/p>\n
This achievement comes on the back of extended technology denial and sanctions that the Indian nuclear establishment lived under after testing atom bombs in 1974 and in 1998 at Pokharan.<\/div>\n
It was the culmination of the Indo-US Civilian Nuclear Deal that led to lifting of sanctions on India’s atomic establishment.<\/p>\n
The Kaiga nuclear complex is not bereft of controversies. When it was set up many environmentalists protested against locating the atomic complex amidst the verdant forests.<\/p>\n
In 2009 it faced its worst crisis when an ‘insider’ poisoned the water cooler within the secure nuclear island by adding radioactive tritium to the drinking water.<\/p>\n
Several workers were exposed to this radioactivity and even after a lot of investigation, till last reports, the person responsible had not been nailed down.<\/p>\n
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