Govt says nuclear plants continue to remain targets of terrorists

New Delhi: The government today said nuclear establishments of the country continue to remain prime targets of the terrorist groups. “In view of the prevailing security scenario, the atomic establishments continue to remain prime targets of the terrorist groups and outfits,” Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran informed Rajya Sabha.   [caption id=“attachment_62715” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran. Reuters”]  [/caption] The Minister said the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) implements and monitors various mandatory safety measures in the nuclear power plants and other establishments. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is the prime agency utilised by the DAE to implement the security measures in these installations. “Besides, the security cover provided by the CISF and the state police forces concerned, additional security measures are also implemented as per the recommendations of the central security agencies who conduct periodic security audits of all nuclear establishments,” he said. Ramachandran said agencies such as the Coast Guard and the Marine Police branch of the state police provide security from the sea side of installations located on the coasts, while the Ministry of Defence coordinates Air Defence cover to the nuclear energy installations. PTI