Department of Atomic Energy grants New Powers to Officials Under Atomic Energy Act

The Central Government of India has exercised its authority under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 to grant expanded powers to designated officials. This decision was notified through an order published on 2nd November, 2023.

Through the present notification, the Central Government has exercised its powers to prevent of entry into prohibited areas. These powers empower the government to prohibit the following:

• entry of any person, without obtaining permission, into a prohibited area and
• taking any photograph, sketch, pictures, drawing, map or other document from a prohibited area without permission. Any permission, if given to do these things, may be subject to stipulations which the Central Government may consider necessary.

The prohibited area in focus is the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) located at Begumpet, Hyderabad, Telangana. The Central Government has designated the following officials to exercise powers of prevention of entry within this area:

1. Director, AMD
2. Additional Director (Operations – I/II), AMD
3. Director (P&A), AMD / Chief Administrative and Accounts Officer, AMD

These officials are now vested with the authority to act in accordance with the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act within the specified prohibited area.