All out efforts to tap potentially viable uranium resources

New Delhi, Oct 23 (UNI) The Government is making all possible efforts to tap all potentially viable uranium resources in the country, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

In a reply during question hour, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's office Prithviraj Chavan said, "we are trying to make maximum use of our Uranium resources. We will explore every Kg of Uranium in the country." Admitting that the nuclear plants in the country are starved because of non-availability of Uranium in India, the Minister said, "fuel demand-supply mismatch has led to operation of nuclear plants at reduced capacity factors." He said the Atomic Minerals Directorate for exploration and research has identified just above one lakh tonnes reserves of uranium in Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Deposits in Jharkhand account for nearly half of the available uranium in the country.

Concerted eforts have been made to develop mines in other states over last several years and are expected to produce positive results in spite of diffculties like land acquisition, mining lease, rehabilitation of affected persons and environment clearances, he added.

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