Tarapur Atomic Power Station, Maharashtra: Unit I closed for refueling and maintenance. Unit II shut down to check cracks in shroud. Termed by CBS Television last year as the worlds leakiest, the units are expected to be operational later rather than sooner, but are clearly on an extended lease of life: all other reactors of their vintage have been phased out or decommissioned.
Rawatbhata Atomic Power Station, Rajasthan: Unit I closed due to cracks in end-shield caused by construction error. Unit II closed to replace leaking over pressure release device.
Intense political pressure to reopen the plant but AERB chief, Dr Gopalakrishnan, was quoted as saying that the Government may opt not to reopen the first because of the kind of money needed. A procedure that has never been carried out anywhere is required to put the second back on track.
Madras Atomic Power Station, Kalpakkam: Unit I in operation but due to be closed soon for inspection of the Calandria. Unit II closed for detailed inspection to check Calandria pressure tubes.
Narora Atomic Power Station, Uttar Pradesh: Unit I has just become operational after a 20-month closure caused by the fire in the turbine in early-1993. Unit II operating normally.
Kakrapar Atomic Power Station, Gujarat: Indias youngest reactors, both units are at near-optimum operation. One unit closed briefly after it was floo-ded by waters.
Kaiga Atomic Power Station, Karnataka: Units I and II, RAPS units III and IV. Construction of inner containment dome stopped following collapse at Kaiga-I. Independent reports by both the AERB and the NPC still to be made public, 18 months after the incident took place.
