India to become self-sufficient in nulcear energy; Kakodkar

Jamshedpur, June 25 (UNI) Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Anil Kakodkar today said India is all set to emerge a self-sufficient nation in nuclear power production as the AEC has drawn up plans to produce about 10,000 MW nuclear power in the coming years.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of inauguration of uranium ore processing plant of Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) at Turamdih, Dr Kakodkar said the AEC had already begun construction of six nuclear reactors in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Karnataka to produce 3160 MW nuclear power by 2008 while permission had already been obtained from the Centre to set up another eight nuclear power plants to produce 6800 mw power.

The proposed reactors would be installed in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan, Dr kakodkar said.

He said the pre-project activities for the proposed eight power plants had already started and the AEC preferred to set up new projects in the vicinity of the exisiting plants to reduce the additional infrasturctural cost.

Dr Kakodkar said the AEC had planned to produce power that would be economically viable and be able to be sold at in cheaper rates for the domestic use.

To a query, Dr Kakodkar said '' we are trying to cut down the import bill of uranium and focussing on domestic supply''.

About the Indo-US nuclear agreement, he said the negotiations was on. ''The Indian nuclear power programme is based on crucial policy which, is necessary from the point of environment sustainablity and the world at large is slowly recognising it'', Dr Kakodkar said.

UCIL chairman and managing director Ramendra Gupta said the KPM uranium project in Meghalaya would come up soon. The detail project report submitted by UCIL was approved by the board and also by the AEC.

Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) is actively involved in setting up the project and an MOU was signed betwen UCIL&KHADC, he said.

About opposition of the KPM project by some local organisations, Mr Gupta said '' it is not unusual as some people oppose when new projects come up.

We are maintaining all norms to set up the project and public hearing is also being held''.

Mr Gupta said three new uranjum projects would also be set up in Andhra Pradesh.

UNI