“ There is no issue more urgent than the democratic control of nuclear power which was born in secrecy for destruction purposes,” says Mr. Tony Benn, Former British Energy Minister (1974-79). It is for the constitutional probity, therefore, to be strictly operate to see that Nuclear business do not violate the rights and liberties of
future generations.
Indian government announced its long-term nuclear commitment to generate 40,000MWe by 2030. The Prime Minister described the Nuclear deal as an attractive offer to help India meet its high-energy demands. But the Government, in formulating the Nuclear Deals, had not conducted interdepartmental discussions with the concerned ministries- Energy, Planning, Finance, Environment, and the Department of Science & Technology.
There are two top most Science Policy Advisory bodies in the country. The Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) of 30 scientist members with an eminent scientist Dr. C.N.R. Rao its Chairman. There is also a Scientific Advisory Committee to advise the Minister of Science and Technology. Both the Council and the Committee should have been involved in deciding the long-term Nuclear Deals. Since
the deals completed today, within 25 years, will affect adversely life and liberties of next generations.
The U.S Nuclear Power industry had been dormant for 30 years. To revive the American nuclear industry it required supply networks, trained engineers, and component manufacturing infrastructures. President Barak Obama had said that the nuclear power has not been an effective energy option as we also have to figure out storage and safety issues. The Obama administration had refused subsidies to nuclear industry.
And the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Dr. Dale Klein confirmed that ‘There was no scope for revival of Nuclear sector in the US.’ “Challenges are formidable, the future of Nuclear Power is uncertain but one thing looks clear – the next generation of (nuclear) plants will not be ‘ Made in the USA’. ” said Mr. Lothar Wedekin, Editor-in-Chief and Head of the IAEA Information. (The IAEA Bulletin, vol.49/1, 2008).
Nonetheless, Man Mohan Singh government invited the multinational companies to take advantage of opportunities in India. During 2007-2008, 40 American firms, led by U.S. Nuclear industries visited India. It projected $150 billion worth of business for the U.S. firms over the next 30 years but “ you realize that it is just a beginning,” said the U.S. Ambassador.
The Bhopal fiasco notwithstanding, liability in a nuclear accident cannot be ascertained by counting the number of dead bodies. Since the radioactive damage is long-lasting in the food-chain, air, water, fish, grass, animals, milk and meat, leading to ill-health, deformities and death in future generations.
Our scientists, at the Department of Atomic Energy, have achieved self-reliance in the nuclear fields as demonstrated in the Pokharan -2. They have indigenously developed thorium-based Fast Breeder Test Reactor for commercial operation by 2030 and planned to achieve 10,000 MWe by Pressurised Heavey Water Reactors by 2020 . At this stage of our nuclear power development, there is little advantage in importing the American reactors since their construction and trial
operation would take 10-12 years. But one thing is certain that the nuclear deals have undermined our country’s scientific efforts.
The Nuclear Deals by stealth would adversely affect our country’s scientific advancement. A day before voting on the bill, all Members of Parliament were given a big Pay package, helping the 300 plus crorepati poor MPs of this rich nation. But Indian Science is deprived of research funds. Annual Science Budget ( 2007) is about $4.5 billion. The IITs and our universities lack the labs equipped with advanced technical systems. We need to update research facilities to keep up with ever advancing frontiers of Science, like Astrophysics and Gene research. But the Nuclear Deals would cost the nation more than US$ 150 billions dollars. And that is just a beginning. No one knows what the future generations of India will have to pay for this expensive high risk nuclear business.
Dhirendra Sharma
( Author of India’s Nuclear Estate is former Chair, Centre for Science Policy, JNU).
psand (at) vsnl.net
