Read it on the Web: http://www.anumukti.in/2011/04/when-will-we-ever-learn-surendra.html

At present, nuclear power comprises less than 3% (4120 MW) of India's electricity. However, as per the terms of a 2005 U.S. - India Nuclear Cooperation Deal, India plans to expand nuclear facilities at an accelerated rate with the goal of 25% (63,000 MW) of Indian electricity to come from nuclear plants in 2032.(1)   As of May 2011, the Jaitapur project alone is set to increase India's nuclear energy output by 10,000 Mwe – a figure that is more than double the total nuclear capacity of India today.

Notable weaknesses have been pointed out in India's nuclear projects around the country. The Indian nuclear program lacks a centralized command and control system, and consequently Indian nuclear facilities have proven erratic and prone to errors. In 1996, it was reported by the Chairman of India's Atomic Energy Regulatory Board that there had been 130 reported instances of safety related concerns, including 95 that have required urgent action, since nuclear power has been implemented. at the time, the Chairman predicted India would face a severe nuclear accident at some point if it continued on its present path. Concerns regarding the Indian nuclear program range from hazardous mining practices, near meltdowns, heavy water leaks, turbine blade failures, moderator system malfunctions, inoperable emergency core cooling systems, coolant pumps catching fires, structure failures, to flooding incidents, and more. The prohibitive majority of India's planned and proposed nuclear power plants do not meet the International Atomic Energy Agency's required safeguards. It's no wonder that the American-based Safe Energy Communication Council (SECC) described the Indian nuclear program, and especially its reactors, as the “least efficient” and the “most dangerous” in the world.(1)

The following is a list of notable plants, with safety hazards they have undergone in the last 25 years:

RAPS : Rajasthan Nuclear Power Plant
Plagued with problems since its initial construction, this plant contaminated the environment in 1992 when it accidentally spilled four tons of radioactive heavy water. (2)


NAPS : Narora Atomic Power Station
Despite warnings from the United States based company, General Electric (GE) about the turbines, India commissioned the Narora Atomic Power Station (NAPS). As a result, in 1993, failure of two steam turbine blades resulted in a major fire in one of the heavy water reactors, which nearly led to a nuclear meltdown. The disaster could have been averted had either the government, of the DAE found it prudent to yield to GE's warnings.


MAPS : Madras Atomic Power Station
This plant has suffered several serious accidents including a 1986 incident in which the reactors cracked and at least two incidents (in 1988 and 1991) when it leaked substantial quantities of heavy water.

CIRUS : Canada India Research Utility Services (research reactor)
This reactor leaked radiation in 1991 and Ceslum 137 was reported to be present in nearby soil, water, and vegetation.

TAPS : Tarapur Power Station
This power station has experienced extensive tube failures. Additionally, both TAPS I and TAPS II have contaminated the water supply of nearly 3000 villagers living nearby with radioactive waste. In 1992, a tube leak caused a radioactive release of 12 Curies of radioactivity into local water.


KAPS : Kakrapar Atomic Power Station
This facility, touted as one of India's best, emits three times more radiation than the international norm. In 1994, faulty construction led to the containment dome's collapse which exposed workers to high doses of radiation.




Sources:
1: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf53.html
(http://www.scribd.com/doc/52477351/23/Rajasthan-Atomic-Power-Station-RAPS)

2: "Calendar of Nuclear Accidents,"  http://archive.greenpeace.org/comms/nukes/chernob/rep02.html