Kalpakkam
Encyclopedia
Kalpakkam is a small town in Tamil Nadu
, India
, situated on the Coromandel Coast
70 kilometres south of Chennai
. A conglomerate of two villages (puduppattinam and sadurangappatinam)and a DAE
township, it is about 55 km from Thiruvanmiyur.
Kalpakkam is mostly famous for its nuclear plants and affiliated research installations. These include the Madras Atomic Power Station
(MAPS), one of India's nuclear power plants, and IGCAR
, the Indira Gandhi
Centre for Atomic Research, an affiliate of the Department of Atomic Energy
(DAE).
Due to increasing congestion in Kalpakkam arising from the need to accommodate more employees, a new township of Anupuram/Amaipakkam, 8 km from Kalpakkam, was inaugurated in 1998.
The tsunami
caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
generated widespread damage and resulted in 50 deaths at Kalpakkam. There is a tsunami memorial.
-1, Kendriya Vidyalaya-2, Govt Hr. Secondary School and Infant Jesus Matric Hr. Sec. School on Pudupattinam. The township is split into two sides: Sadras
and Pudupattinam
side. Often there is a healthy rivalry in sports and in other activities between the two sides, especially since Kendriya Vidyalaya-1 is on the Pudupattinam side and Kendriya Vidyalaya-2 on the Sadras side. Both sides have similar facilities, but with Pudupattinam having more complete and bigger facilities, such as the hospital and the General Services Organization (GSO). The two sides are separated by a bridge over the canal which joins the sea nearby and well over the backwater with thousands of jelly fish moving underneath. One can easily notice them glaring beautifully in the sunshine. Also, the backwater is a visiting place by many migratory birds especially the rare seen siberian crane in peak winter. The glorifying beauty of the backwater can be clearly seen through the compound walls of K.V-2 sadras.
, India's first breeder reactor
. It has another reactor named KAMINI
, which is the only reactor in the world to use uranium-233
type fuel, which is converted from thorium-232. Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) is a wholly owned Enterprise of the Government of India under the administrative control of the Department of atomic Energy (DAE). The 500MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor
(PFBR) is planned to be the first of a family of fast breeder power reactors which would provide energy security to India. The PFBR is being built with technology developed at the Indira Gandhi Center for atomic research (IGCAR), also located at Kalpakkam, and was expected to go on stream by 2010.
The Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) is situated in Kalpakkam which has twin units of capacity 220 MWe each. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Facilities) or in short BARC (F) is also situated in the kalpakkam campus. The Safety Research Institute (SRI) of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is also located inside the IGCAR campus.
Kalpakkam was in the news and a cause of concern when it was initially reported that Madras Atomic Power Station has been damaged by the 2004 tsunami. However, it was successfully shut down without incident. Power production has since resumed at MAPS.
trees and only a few weeds. But in recent times,to avoid the wide spread damage being caused by a tsunami again weed growth is starting to dominate, which the local population is fighting to keep in check.Also, tsunami wall is built across the sea shore to decrease the force of the waves in a tsunami struck again. The relatively calm and musical waters are free of sharks.One can also clearly see the shore from the windows of Kendriya Vidyalaya no.2 & 1 as well as AECS 1 & 2.
Kalpakkam is also very close to Mamallapuram – one of the famous tourist destinations near Chennai. It is a relaxing spot with quiet beaches and a serene atmosphere. The environment within the township has been well maintained for over 30 years. There are numerous trees and various parks within the township in which to relax. There are various avenues for recreations, including tennis courts, music, dance, swimming academies and various other sport activities.
Nesco has various facilities for members; for movies, basketball, volleyball, badminton, Carom, Chess, TT, Ring Ball, Kabadi, football, Cricket etc.
operates buses from Chennai, Pondicherry, Bangalore
, Coimbatore
, Trichy, Tirupathi, Vellore
, Tiruvannamalai
Chittoor
, Tindivanam
and Kanchipuram
. The East Coast Road
connecting Chennai and Pondicherry passes through Pudupattinam.
.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, situated on the Coromandel Coast
Coromandel Coast
The Coromandel Coast is the name given to the southeastern coast of the Indian Subcontinent between Cape Comorin and False Divi Point...
70 kilometres south of Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
. A conglomerate of two villages (puduppattinam and sadurangappatinam)and a DAE
DAE
DAE may mean:* Daporijo Airport, the IATA code for the airport in India* Department of Atomic Energy , an Indian government department responsible for administration of India's nuclear programme...
township, it is about 55 km from Thiruvanmiyur.
Kalpakkam is mostly famous for its nuclear plants and affiliated research installations. These include the Madras Atomic Power Station
Madras Atomic Power Station
Madras Atomic Power Station located at Kalpakkam about south of Chennai, India, is a comprehensive nuclear power production, fuel reprocessing, and waste treatment facility that includes plutonium fuel fabrication for fast breeder reactors . It is also India's first fully indigenously constructed...
(MAPS), one of India's nuclear power plants, and IGCAR
IGCAR
The Reactor Research Centre set up at Kalpakkam, India, 80 km south of Chennai in 1971 under the Department of Atomic Energy was renamed Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research in 1985. The center is primarily a research facility besides being a nuclear power plant aiding in meeting a...
, the Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
Centre for Atomic Research, an affiliate of the Department of Atomic Energy
Department of Atomic Energy (India)
The Department of Atomic Energy is a department directly under the Prime Minister of India with headquartered in Mumbai. The department is responsible for nuclear technology, including nuclear power and research....
(DAE).
Due to increasing congestion in Kalpakkam arising from the need to accommodate more employees, a new township of Anupuram/Amaipakkam, 8 km from Kalpakkam, was inaugurated in 1998.
The tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
generated widespread damage and resulted in 50 deaths at Kalpakkam. There is a tsunami memorial.
Facilities
Kalpakkam is a well built and planned township. The schools present in the township are Atomic Energy Central School (AECS 1,2&3), Kendriya VidyalayaKendriya Vidyalaya
Kendriya Vidyalaya, is a system of central government schools under the Ministry of Human Resource Development ....
-1, Kendriya Vidyalaya-2, Govt Hr. Secondary School and Infant Jesus Matric Hr. Sec. School on Pudupattinam. The township is split into two sides: Sadras
Sadras
Sadras is a fortress town located on India's Coromandel Coast in Kanchipuram District, 70 km south of Chennai in Tamil Nadu state. Sadras is the anglicized form of the ancient town of Chadhuranga Pattinam....
and Pudupattinam
Pudupattinam
Pudupattinam is a census town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.It is famous for being located on the southern end of the township at Kalpakkam while Sadras is situated at the northern end. It is only a few kilometres from the reactor at IGCAR and MAPS-Demographics: India...
side. Often there is a healthy rivalry in sports and in other activities between the two sides, especially since Kendriya Vidyalaya-1 is on the Pudupattinam side and Kendriya Vidyalaya-2 on the Sadras side. Both sides have similar facilities, but with Pudupattinam having more complete and bigger facilities, such as the hospital and the General Services Organization (GSO). The two sides are separated by a bridge over the canal which joins the sea nearby and well over the backwater with thousands of jelly fish moving underneath. One can easily notice them glaring beautifully in the sunshine. Also, the backwater is a visiting place by many migratory birds especially the rare seen siberian crane in peak winter. The glorifying beauty of the backwater can be clearly seen through the compound walls of K.V-2 sadras.
Nuclear facilities
IGCAR, while being a multifaceted research installation, is famous for the fast breeder test reactor FBTRFBTR
The Fast Breeder Test Reactor is a breeder reactor located at Kalpakkam, India. The Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research and Bhabha Atomic Research Center jointly designed, constructed, and operate the reactor.-History:...
, India's first breeder reactor
Breeder reactor
A breeder reactor is a nuclear reactor capable of generating more fissile material than it consumes because its neutron economy is high enough to breed fissile from fertile material like uranium-238 or thorium-232. Breeders were at first considered superior because of their superior fuel economy...
. It has another reactor named KAMINI
KAMINI
KAMINI is a research reactor at Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research in Kalpakkam, India. Its first criticality was on October 29, 1996...
, which is the only reactor in the world to use uranium-233
Uranium-233
Uranium-233 is a fissile isotope of uranium, bred from Thorium as part of the thorium fuel cycle. It has been used in a few nuclear reactors and has been proposed for much wider use as a nuclear fuel. It has a half-life of 160,000 years....
type fuel, which is converted from thorium-232. Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) is a wholly owned Enterprise of the Government of India under the administrative control of the Department of atomic Energy (DAE). The 500MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor
Prototype fast breeder reactor
The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor is a 500MWe fast breeder nuclear reactor presently being constructed in Kalpakkam, India. The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research is responsible for the design of this reactor....
(PFBR) is planned to be the first of a family of fast breeder power reactors which would provide energy security to India. The PFBR is being built with technology developed at the Indira Gandhi Center for atomic research (IGCAR), also located at Kalpakkam, and was expected to go on stream by 2010.
The Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) is situated in Kalpakkam which has twin units of capacity 220 MWe each. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Facilities) or in short BARC (F) is also situated in the kalpakkam campus. The Safety Research Institute (SRI) of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is also located inside the IGCAR campus.
Kalpakkam was in the news and a cause of concern when it was initially reported that Madras Atomic Power Station has been damaged by the 2004 tsunami. However, it was successfully shut down without incident. Power production has since resumed at MAPS.
Recreation
Until a few years ago, the beach at Kalpakkam used to be lined with casuarinaCasuarina
Casuarina is a genus of 17 species in the family Casuarinaceae, native to Australasia, southeast Asia, and islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It was once treated as the sole genus in the family, but has been split into three genera .They are evergreen shrubs and trees growing to 35 m tall...
trees and only a few weeds. But in recent times,to avoid the wide spread damage being caused by a tsunami again weed growth is starting to dominate, which the local population is fighting to keep in check.Also, tsunami wall is built across the sea shore to decrease the force of the waves in a tsunami struck again. The relatively calm and musical waters are free of sharks.One can also clearly see the shore from the windows of Kendriya Vidyalaya no.2 & 1 as well as AECS 1 & 2.
Kalpakkam is also very close to Mamallapuram – one of the famous tourist destinations near Chennai. It is a relaxing spot with quiet beaches and a serene atmosphere. The environment within the township has been well maintained for over 30 years. There are numerous trees and various parks within the township in which to relax. There are various avenues for recreations, including tennis courts, music, dance, swimming academies and various other sport activities.
Nesco
Nesco stands for Nuclear employee sports and cultural organisation; previously it was known as KRC (Kalpakkam recreation centre). It is governed by an elected employee council.Nesco has various facilities for members; for movies, basketball, volleyball, badminton, Carom, Chess, TT, Ring Ball, Kabadi, football, Cricket etc.
Bus routes
The township is well connected by road and TNSTCTNSTC
The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation is the public transport bus operator of Tamil Nadu, India. It operates buses along intra and inter state bus routes, as well as city routes.There are currently 6 divisions in TNSTC:*TNSTC Coimbatore...
operates buses from Chennai, Pondicherry, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
, Trichy, Tirupathi, Vellore
Vellore
Vellore It is considered one of the oldest cities in South India and lies on the banks of the Palar river on the site of Vellore Fort. The city lies between Chennai and Bangalore and the Temple towns of Thiruvannamalai and Tirupati...
, Tiruvannamalai
Tiruvannamalai
Thiruvannamalai is a pilgrimage Temple city and special grade municipality in Thiruvannamalai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Thiruvannamalai district. Thiruvannamalai is home to the Annamalaiyar Temple located at the foot of the Annamalai hill and...
Chittoor
Chittoor
Chittoor also known as Chittur, is a City and municipal corporation located in the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is conveniently located on major highways linking the cities of Bangalore and Chennai....
, Tindivanam
Tindivanam
Tindivanam is a town and a municipality in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Important roads from north to south Tamil Nadu pass through Tindivanam and similarly from west to east.-History:Tindivanam is a Selection grade Municipal Town...
and Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
. The East Coast Road
East Coast Road
East Coast Road is a two lane highway in Tamil Nadu, India, built along the coast of the Bay of Bengal connecting Chennai to Cuddalore via Pondicherry. Presently, the East Coast Road has been extended up to Thoothukudi via Chidambaram, Karaikal, Nagore, Nagapattinam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthupet,...
connecting Chennai and Pondicherry passes through Pudupattinam.
| Route Number | Start | End | Via |
|---|---|---|---|
| 108 Cut | Kalpakkam | Chengalpattu | Thirukazhukundram Thirukazhukundram For the village, Thirukazhukundram, refer TirukalukundramThirukazhukundram or Thirukkalukundram is an ancient town in Kanchipuram district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-The Temple:... |
| 108 | Kalpakkam | Chennai Chennai Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India... |
Chengalpattu, Tambaram Tambaram Tambaram is a suburb of Chennai situated 27 km south of the city in Tamil Nadu, India. It is an urban node. Tambaram is a hub to all major destinations in south Tamil Nadu as it lies on the busy Chennai–Trichy national highway. The highway and the railway line from Chennai Egmore to... |
| 118 | Kalpakkam | Chennai Chennai Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India... |
Mahabalipuram, East Coast Road East Coast Road East Coast Road is a two lane highway in Tamil Nadu, India, built along the coast of the Bay of Bengal connecting Chennai to Cuddalore via Pondicherry. Presently, the East Coast Road has been extended up to Thoothukudi via Chidambaram, Karaikal, Nagore, Nagapattinam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthupet,... |
| 119 | Kalpakkam | Chennai Chennai Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India... |
Mahabalipuram, Old Mahabalipuram Road |
| 157 Cut | Kalpakkam | Kanchipuram Kanchipuram Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district... |
Chengalpattu |
| 157 | Kalpakkam | Vellore Vellore Vellore It is considered one of the oldest cities in South India and lies on the banks of the Palar river on the site of Vellore Fort. The city lies between Chennai and Bangalore and the Temple towns of Thiruvannamalai and Tirupati... |
Kanchipuram Kanchipuram Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district... |
| 164 C | Kalpakkam | Chittoor Chittoor Chittoor also known as Chittur, is a City and municipal corporation located in the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is conveniently located on major highways linking the cities of Bangalore and Chennai.... |
Kanchipuram Kanchipuram Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district... , Arakonam |
| 188 (ECR) | Chennai Chennai Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India... |
Pondicherry | Mahabalipuram, Kalpakkam |
| 188 C | Chennai Chennai Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India... |
Cheyyur | Mahabalipuram, Kalpakkam |
| 188 D | Chennai Chennai Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India... |
Anaicut | Mahabalipuram, Kalpakkam |
| 188 K | Chennai Chennai Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India... |
Kadapakkam | Mahabalipuram, Kalpakkam |
| 212 H | Kalpakkam | Tirupathi | Kanchipuram Kanchipuram Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district... , Arakonam, Thiruthani |
| EXP | Kalpakkam | Trichy | Chengalpattu, Tindivanam Tindivanam Tindivanam is a town and a municipality in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Important roads from north to south Tamil Nadu pass through Tindivanam and similarly from west to east.-History:Tindivanam is a Selection grade Municipal Town... , Villupuram |
| 471 UD | Kalpakkam | Coimbatore Coimbatore Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India".... |
Chengalpattu, Tindivanam Tindivanam Tindivanam is a town and a municipality in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Important roads from north to south Tamil Nadu pass through Tindivanam and similarly from west to east.-History:Tindivanam is a Selection grade Municipal Town... , Salem |
| 834 UD / 444K EXP | Kalpakkam | Bangalore Bangalore Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and... |
Kanchipuram Kanchipuram Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district... , Vellore Vellore Vellore It is considered one of the oldest cities in South India and lies on the banks of the Palar river on the site of Vellore Fort. The city lies between Chennai and Bangalore and the Temple towns of Thiruvannamalai and Tirupati... , Krishnagiri Krishnagiri -Tourism:Thousands of visitors visit Krishnagiri each year. Majority come from Hosur/Bangalore and Chennai. KRP dam constructed in 1960's during the rule of the then Chief Minister Kamaraj located near the town, is a nice picnic spot. Nearby, Sayed Basha hills has a fort that was the fortress of... , Hosur Hosur Hosur is a town and a municipality in Krishnagiri district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.The name of the town is from Kannada language which means 'New settlement/town' . It is a taluk of Krishnagiri district. It is located about 40 kilometres south-east of Bangalore and 38 kilometres from... |
Competitive Quiz Contests
Kalpakkam is renowned in India for a number of competitive school-level quiz contests such as the Brahm Prakash Memorial Materials QuizBrahm Prakash Memorial Materials Quiz
This programme was initiated in 1990 to create an awareness among the students about the importance of metallurgy and materials science in industrial and technological development , to broaden their knowledge in these fields, and to encourage them to choose these interesting and application...
.
External links
- http://www.kalpakkam.com/
- http://www.igcar.gov.in
- Will the Kalpakkam Nuclear Establishment & the Indian Atomic Energy Commission Learn its Lessons from the December 26 Tsunami? - An Indepth Critique
- Kendriya Vidyalaya-1
- Kendriya Vidyalaya-2
- Infant Jesus Matric Hr. Sec. School http://www.infantjesusmatric.org