History won't forgive us, if no N-deal: Kakodkar

Bangalore, Jul 5: Atomic Energy commission chairman Anil Kakodkar on Friday, July 4, made a strong pitch for operationalising the Indo-US nuclear deal.

"Here is a chance. Without compromising on our principles, we can bridge energy security for the future. If we don't do (the deal) now, history will not forgive us." he told journalists on the sidelines of a lecture organised by the Indian Academy of Science.“We need uranium. We need nuclear technology," Kakodkar said. “Our reactors are operating at 50 to 55 percent due to mismatch between uranium supply and need. Earlier we were operating reactors at 70 to 80 percent. We need to augment supply from abroad till we mine our uranium reserves," he said.

Later, declining to comment on the raging political debate over the nuclear deal, hsaid that the sooner the deal's timeline for approaching the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is worked out the better.

Kakodkar was here to present a lecture on 'Evolving Indian Nuclear programme: Rationale and perspectives" that was organised by the Indian Academy of Sciences.

OneIndia News