Nuke Suppliers did not reject Indo-US deal

Hyderabad, Nov 8: Calling the Indo-US nuclear deal complex, Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Chairman Anil Kakodkar today denied that the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) had refused to accept it.

''It (NSG) has only discussed it, (Indo-US nuclear initiative) but no decision was taken,'' the AEC chief said in response to media reports quoting an American Arms Control Publication as suggesting that India had failed to satisfy the 45-member NSG during its presentation on the deal on October 12 at Vienna.

India reportedly put forward its need for nuclear energy while making it clear that it was determined not to cap its nuclear weapon programme. The report said the NSG did not concur on two additional proposals - the criteria to govern export of enriched uranium and plutonium reprocessing technology, apart from the protocol delegating the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to uncover illicit activity by blocking nuclear trade.

Dr Kakodkar made light of the suggestion that the NSG would meet only in April next year, which could possibly impact the deal.

''After all, the heavens are not going to fall between now and April (when the NSG is slated to meet in South Africa),'' he said.

Cumulatively, about 3900 MW of nuclear power was being generated at present and India planned to upscale it to 10,000 MW by 2010.

UNI