Nuclear scientist favours Indo-US nuke deal for India's development

Agartala, Sep 9 (UNI) The Indo-US Nuclear deal does not pose any disadvantage to the counrty and will rather help in development of India's scientific capabilities.

Speaking to UNI here today, Head of the Public Awareness Division of the Atomic Energy Ministry Dr Swapnesh Kumar Malhotra said the deal would provide opportunities of international civil nuclear commerce to India and it would not be harmful for the country in any way.

''The deal marks a notable warming of Indo-US relations. It would lift the US moratorium on nuclear trade with India, provide assistance to India's civilian nuclear energy programme and expand Indo-US cooperation in energy and satellite technology,'' Dr Malhotra said.

He claimed that India would not lose anything if it signed the deal because the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA), a United Nations (UN) body, would be the main custodian of the nuclear reactors and that no nation could use it without the UN's consultation which would help prevent the abuse of nuclear power.

Elaborating on India's nuclear programme, he said in the first stage, the country had started indigenous development of nuclear power plants based on uranium cycle in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) adding that at present India had 17 such reactors under operation, including eight under military. Besides, four more nuclear reactors were under construction and several others had been planned, he said.

A three-stage nuclear power programme, based on a closed nuclear fuel cycle, was chalked out - natural uranium fuelled PHWR, Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR) utilising plutonium-based fuel and advanced nuclear power systems for utilisation of thorium, Dr Malhotra said adding that India was dependent on other countries for carrying out efficient production of plutonium and fissile materials for further growth in nuclear power capacity.

He said the US had helped India develop nuclear energy under atoms for peace program in 1950 and also built a nuclear reactor for India, provided nuclear fuel and allowed Indian scientists to do research work at US nuclear laboratories.

In 1969 and 1972, India had built nuclear reactors with US help.

However, India refused to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty and tested its first nuclear bomb in 1974 proving that it could develop nuclear weapons with technology transferred for peaceful purposes, Dr Malhotra said.

Since 2000, the US had initiated a strategic partnership with India, increasing cooperation in many fields, including spaceflight, satellite technology and missile defence and finally in 2005, both the countries agreed to go for the deal, he noted.

The ministry was now working on a project for generation of power from nuclear energy to increase per capita consumption of power since the deficiency of the power sector could not be tackled without nuclear energy, Dr Malhotra said adding that per capita power consumption was now considered as an important indicator of economic growth.

At present, per capita power consumption in the US is more than 12,000 units while in India it is only 600 units with the Northeastern region consuming only 230 units, he said.

Consequently, the Centre had planned to execute a comprehensive programme in the area of nuclear sciences and also pursue other technologies dependent on it, including lasers and their applications, he added.

The ministry had developed research reactors, accelerators and lasers besides other advanced technologies for use in health care, agriculture, food preservation, water resources and environment management, especially in the NE.

UNI