C Shivakumar | LARGE-SCALE unauthorised development in and around the sterile zone of the Kalpakkam nuclear complex is being planned, violating national and international reactor guidelines and putting to risk the security of the nuclear establishment and the people. The national and international guidelines stipulate that the area within 1.6km from the reactor must be designated as `exclusion zone' and a 5km area radius from the op erating nuclear reactor must be d designated as `sterile zone'. The guidelines also state that there should be no unnatural g population growth within the d sterile area. Kalpakkam sources said the y ille gal developments taking d place in the area would hamper evacuation plans in case of natul ral disasters or terrorist attacks a on the nuclear facility. Some of the builders are also seeking the permission of the Kalpakkam Nuclear Installation Local Authority (NILA) for approval, a move that does not have the District Town Planning Commission's nod. Although NILA had written to the state government seeking a survey of the sterile zone on the approval status of the developments in the area, no action has been taken so far. DTCP sources said a survey was underway but questioned NILA's decision to grant approval to some projects. However, Kalpakkam sources said nuclear utilities have approached the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board to review the c r i t e r i a fo r t h e r a d i u s o f exclusion, sterile and Emergency Planning Zone zones. "Excellent safety track record of operating reactors in India was the reason for NILA's decision to grant permission to the developments. We don't want to create a fear psychosis to curb genuine developmental work," the source added. We have sent papers to the District Town and Country Planning (DTCP) office for approval -- Real estate developer For the last 18 months, DTCP has not received any application from this area -- DTCP official Real estate firms are merrily developing land in the vicinity of the kalpakkam nuclear reactor, making a mockery of the concept of sterile zone. the going rate per ground is between rs 6 lakh and rs 20 lakh While Kalpakkam Nuclear Installation Local Authority claims it is okay with development subject certain norms, DTPC officials are wary of unnatural population growth in the sterile area A MARITIME college, an engineering college and many real estate firms are slowly converting the sterile Kalpakkam nuclear zone into a development zone without the approval of the District Town and Country Planning (DTCP) authorities. Development work is going on in full swing in the sterile zone. When Express posed as a buyer of real estate properties, one of the fir ms selling property in Vengambakkam village said the cost of one ground of land was between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 20 lakh. "It is classified as "farmland", he said. In a nearby area, Abhiramee Estates Properties and Promoters is planning to build Rajavarthini Nagar. A giant sized hoarding says "Double bedroom deluxe flats proposed for construction." A villager says construction will begin from avani, which is an auspicious Tamil month. A real estate firm in a nearby village, very close to the reactor, promises to start construction within a month. "We were the first to get permission from the Kalpakkam Nuclear Installation Local Authority (NILA) and now we have sent in papers for DTCP's approval, which we think will not take long time," says an agent. But will DTCP approve the plans? "No" says a DTCP source. "There are strict guidelines against unnatural population growth in the sterile area," the source points out. "Local panchayats and block development officers (BDOs) have the right to okay development work on only 200 sq metre of land within the 5 km sterile zone. But development work is happening much beyond 200 sq metres," the source adds. "For the last 18 months, DTCP has not received any application from this area," he asserts. On whether the DTCP will act to punish the erring firms and institutes, the source says, "All the powers are vested with the revenue authority to take action." A few educational institutes that have mushroomed in the area claim to have received NILA's permission. A NILA source says, "NILA is not against development. The institutes coming up in the sterile zone should have their own infrastructure to evacuate people during emergencies. They should also take up development programmes in and around the area." An Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) official points out that the whole area was a green belt and rued that rapid industrialization has killed farmlands. Indeed, land value has zoomed, prompting farmers to sell their properties to make a quick buck. "There have been numerous cases of encroachments and land grabs. But authorities are silent as powerful people are involved," a real estate source points out. But as development projects are growing in the area, NILA has reasons to be concerned. "This unchecked developments will affect security of the nuclear installations," says a worried scientist.