GITAM Univ prof opposes Dr.Kalam's view on nuclear power

Rajahmundry, Jun 29: Prof Shivji Rao, Director of Center for Environmental Studies, GITAM University, has opposed former president Dr Abdul Kalam's view on nuclear power that it not be abandoned for the risks it poses to man.

Prof Rao claimed that the nuclear technology in India faces higher levels of failures and risks, "since even advanced economies like USA, Japan and Germany have failed to master the nuclear safety problems."

Dr Kalam, on Sunday, Jun 26 while interacting with the students of an engineering college at Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu said that nuclear power could not be abandoned for the risks it poses to man just "as aircrafts and automobiles have not been abandoned following accidents."

Contradicting this, Prof Rao said, "This statement is highly improper in view of the Indian ethos. While automobile and aircraft accidents kill individuals and harm the interests of only one generation, the damaging impacts of nuclear power can ruin interests of several generations of human beings and other forms of life, on which man depends for his survival."

"Since even advanced economies like USA, Japan and Germany failed to master the nuclear safety problems, India should refrain from starting new major reactors at Jaitapur in Maharasthra, Bhavnagar in Gujarat and Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh to avoid turning India into a nuclear grave yard," he added.

"Hence the contention of Dr Kalam that India cannot abandon nuclear power because of the safety concerns is highly unethical and immoral and it is opposed to the Gandhian ideology that establishes that science without human concerns is a social evil like knowledge without character and commerce without morality," he said.

He continued, "Nuclear technology in India faces higher levels of failures and risks, because the developed countries are rushing to join the nuclear reactor development race without the necessary infrastructure, skilled personnel, relevant regulatory framework and safety culture, as evidenced by the several nuclear incidents and minor accidents that caused serious health problems to hundreds of those living near the nuclear plants in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu."

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