Indian nuke programme on irrespective of US deal

Bangalore, Sept 13: The Indian nuclear programme will be pursued undeterred irrespective of the Indo-US nuclear deal coming through, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar said today.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines after inaugurating the Emergency Response Centre at the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research here, he said the two countries had held wide ranging discussions on the modalities of the nuclear fuel deal and also some specific discussions with International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) with regard to India's specific efforts.

''We have identified separation plan which has been discussed and agreed upon by the two countries. We are more or less done on approval of the deal. However, now US Congress will have to amend its laws to pass a guideline with regard to nuclear fuel suppliers, so that nuclear cooperation between India and the US can start. The process has to progress in the US Congress technically and we are awaiting the outcome of this process,'' he said.

Mr Kakodkar categorically stated that if the agreement was reached, it would be done soon. ''If the agreement doesn't come through, don't bother, the Indian civil nuclear programme will continue,'' he said.

Dr Kakodkar asserted that there would not be any change in the framework of the Indo-US nuclear deal and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his statement in the Parliament had spelt out all the elements. He said India would look after its interest of carrying on with its own nuclear programme and would stick to its point of view. It had a specific domestic research and development programmes because it wanted to open up its three stage nuclear programme to its full potential.

"We should be able to carry out our strategic programme, especially in regard to our national security, which was recognised in the July 18 agreement. While we must be able to carry out our domestic programme exactly in the lines of what we have been working on, we are also very keen on the international civil nuclear cooperation to ensure that we get additional energy resources through nuclear power," he said.

On scouting different sources for the supply of nuclear fuel like France, he said, the country was advanced technologically and its energy requirements was large. It was in the country's interest that it met its growing energy requirements. However, it was also in the global interest that India found enough substitute to produce energy and reduce its dependence on fossil fuel.

"The concern is about global warming and other environmental aspects and the sustainability of fossil fuel world over. India has been very responsible in the use of nuclear power and it had proved to be an ideal in the international community. Other countries also have their commitment in the form of supply of nuclear fuel.

However, we will ensure that our interest is fully guarded," he stated.

On the question of recycling spent fuel, Mr Kakodkar said the spent fuel could not be left as it was perpetually. As part of Indian policy it had adopted a close nuclear fuel cycle which was getting broader world recognition as the correct strategy for management of spent fuel.

No one had objected about the recycling of plutonium and Uranium in the spent fuel. It is also required in the environmental point of view of critical waste management. "Recycle of spent fuel is important to us," he said.

UNI