NEW DELHI – 21 nuclear reactors with a total installed capacity of 15,700MW are currently under construction, the government said on Wednesday.

However, it ruled out increasing the generation capacity of the existingplants.

Currently, there are nine nuclear power reactors at various stages ofconstruction which are expected to be completed by 2024-25, Union MinisterJitendra Singh said in the Lok Sabha.

In reply to questions, he said 12 more reactors were accordedadministrative approval and financial sanction in June last year.

The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office said that together 21nuclear power reactors, with an installed capacity of 15,700 MW are underimplementation and envisaged for progressive completion by 2031.

Besides, in-principle approval has been given for five sites for setting upnuclear plants, he said during the Question Hour.

These sites are in Jaitapur (Maharashtra), Kovvada (Andhra Pradesh), ChhayaMithi Virdi (Gujarat), Haripur (West Bengal) and Bhimpur (Madhya Pradesh).

To a query on whether the government was considering increasing thecapacity of the existing nuclear power plants, Singh replied in thenegative.

“The existing units are operating at their rate capacity.

The unit size of indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) hasalready been increased from 220 MW to 540 MW and then to 700 MW, which arenow under construction.

“In addition, Light Water Reactors of 1,000 MW have also been introducedwith foreign cooperation,” the minister said.

Singh also said the government has taken several measures to enable settingup of nuclear power reactors.

These include resolution of issues related to Civil Liability for NuclearDamage Act and creation of Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool, he added.