Indo-U.S. Nuclear Deal
The Indo-U.S. civil nuclear agreement has faced one obstacle
after another. By June 2017, six reactors were to be built in Andhra Pradesh by Toshiba-owned
Westinghouse and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL). But there
could be a delay in this. The government and officials should re-examine the country’s engagement with
nuclear energy for future needs. The cost of importing reactors, relative to
those based on indigenous design, is one concern. Land acquisition issues
remain, along with the need for large water reservoirs for the reactors.
However, of all his achievements in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Dr.
Singh will be remembered for the nuclear deal.
The promise of nuclear power has thus far outweighed all of
these concerns, and India has reason to be proud of its technology and
determination to look for non-fossil alternatives in its energy planning. However,
with rapid progress in technology in other renewable energy sources such as
wind and solar power, the collapse of oil prices and the expansion in gas
projects as a viable and clean alternative, that promise has dimmed. These
could also be more cost-effective for a developing country such as India.
Nuclear power is one of the good options available to India
for green power. Modern techniques have reduced time frame for construction and
operationalisation. UK is building one of the biggest atomic power reactor.
India needs to go full stream ahead to indigenously manufacture new reactors
especially fast breeders and export the same also
The book 'The Power of Promise' by M V Ramana has a detailed
analysis of the potential economic and environmental harms of nuclear
power/energy. The book says it is highly uneconomical and environmentally
dangerous. That makes one wonder whether nuclear power should be shunned
altogether.
Thus India should utilise the delay in Indo-US nuclear deal
in positive way. It is the best time for analysis of balance sheet of nuclear
deal.
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