Express News Service
CHENNAI: The state government has recently started allowing sale of land within the 5 km radius of the Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) at Kalpakkam located about 80 km south of Chennai.
This has caused concern among the nuclear plant officials. They are worried that any urban growth in the vicinity could hamper evacuation in case of emergencies.
The one-kilometer radius around the nuclear plants is the Exclusion Zone where no development is allowed. The next four-kilometer radius was until last year was termed a sterile zone . The nomenclature was changed last year from sterile zone to natural growth zone by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. It was after this the sales of land in this zone were being allowed and the nuclear power plant officials were concerned as this may lead to urban growth in the area.