One million (metric tones) —Treated Radio-Active Water to be released. 

The Japanese Government had stated “starting from the 24th August, the Government will be authorizing releasing of over 1 million tons treated radioactive water from its wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant.

This move had been criticized by many neighboring countries throughout Japan, particularly by China.

This Initial plan of releasing de-contaminated water was pre planned almost 2 years ago. Government states It has to be done in order to proceed with the stages of decommissioning the nuclear power plant.

The company in charge of operating the power plant Tokyo Electric Power Company has come under severe criticism by many environmentalist groups as well as Fishing groups scattered throughout the power plant. “Claiming the decision to release the de-contaminated water would threaten their livelihood for a faceable future”.

On Tuesday morning Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had said “I have asked Tokyo Electric Power Company to swiftly prepare for the water discharge in accordance with the plan approved by the Nuclear Regulation Authority, and expect the water release to start on August 24, weather conditions permitting”.

Despite the move to release de-contaminated water, it has faced opposition from many groups and people, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations nuclear watchdog and  environmental rights group GreenLight has assessed the situation on the ground and concluded that the release of de-contaminated water has met International standard and it’s harmful environment effects are negligible in all aspects.

However the Chinese government is not satisfied with these assurances and has accused Japan of selfishness and arrogance. Additionally accused Japan of not fully consulting with the international community and particularly with neighboring countries which are likely to feel the effect of these waters being received.

As a precautionary measure China has banned importation of seafood from certain selected districts from Japan. Additionally seafood to get imported to China must pass through a radioactive test and they also have to produce proof that they were being produced outside of banned regions within Japan.

Initially South Korea itself protested over the release of this contaminated water but withdrew its opposition stating that “it respects the assessment conducted by various International governing bodies”.

The water is expected to be released for the Pacific Ocean and Japan says it will be filtered to remove most radioactive elements. Except for tritium. It states this isotope is extremely difficult to be separated from water.

Japan says de-contaminated water will be heavily diluted well below internationally recommended levels before being released into the Pacific Ocean.

This water was primarily used on the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plants to control temperature of its fuel-rods, Nuclear Power-Plant was heavily damaged by the 2011 Tsunami that hit the region and flooded the power plant with debris and sea water.