BARC to set up new centre near Vizag to boost nuclear research

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is setting up a new campus on the east coast near Visakhapatnam to boost nuclear research. This centre will carry out research in the nuclear field with applications in energy security, health, agriculture, water and other strategic areas.

“BARC is setting up a new campus on the east coast near Visakhapatnam based on strategic reasons. The selection of the site was based on recommendations of the Site Selection Committee and approved by the Atomic Energy Commission. Of this 1,207 hectares of revenue land has already been acquired for the project. The 148.15 hectares of forest land proposed for diversion is adjacent to this acquired land and lies between the project site and sea,” the minutes of the meeting of the Advisory Committee said.

Of the 148.15 hectares, 120.32 hectares will be left undisturbed and will serve as buffer zones required for security and safety reasons. Only 27.83 hectares is planned to be developed for purposes like routing of services and effluent discharge and sea water lines, construction of jetty, security watch towers, compound wall and patrolling roads.

As many as 1,722 of the 21,244 trees on the land will be felled. However, those located in areas close to the sea will not be cut, and the EAC said this would not affect the general ecosystem. Due to the strategic nature of the project the detailed project report (DPR) is protected from disclosure.

“No land use change shall be considered for non-site specific activities in future on the diverted land,” the committee said while recommending the proposal.