Look into oceans for energy resources: Kakodkar

As the country was facing a fast resource depleting world, it should optimally use available resources and can look into oceans for energy resources, Atomic Energy Commission Member Anil Kakodkar said here today.
"In absolute terms we are producing large but in terms of per capita ours is highly resource starved country. We need a game changing technology and ocean is the only answer," he said.
Delivering the 21st Foundation Day lecture at the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) here, he said though the country was blessed with talents to solve any problem of not only its own but also the world, resources available to the country was "just the reverse."

Observing that the country's need was the largest in the world, he said, "Not even China, since it is a developed country. The per capita consumption of electricity in China is four times better than that of India. That is the challenge before us."
While the country was of the view that the coal reserve would meet the requirements for the next 100 years, given the rate of growth and the rate of coal consumption, it might not even last for that long. "The point I am trying to make is we have to optimally use available resources," he said.

Since it was far more difficult for the country to acquire resource from outside these days, the former AEC chairman said, "In terms of money, in terms of efforts, it is becoming difficult. It will keep galloping. "We are in desperate need of game changing technology, which will help us produce our own resource."

Taking the case of fishing in Indian waters, he said the fishing activity was fast growing and so were the number of boats involved in the activity, but not the fish catch.
"Fish catch has not gone up, since we are fishing unmindful of dynamics operating the marine lifecycle. The government needs to come up with strict rules governing the fishing activity."

Talking to reporters later on the sidelines of the function, he said Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant was very safe, notwithstanding the negative reports in media.
"During initial operations, more trips are bound to happen. The glitches only show that safety measures are functioning. There is nothing to fear in Kudankulam," Kakodkar said, replying to a query.
Asked about the nuclear insurance pool, he said, "There is something happening in that area. But I am not aware of the details."
Reiterating his earlier opinion, he said that the government should clear all doubts in the nuclear liability law. "The interpretations of the law are keeping investors away from the field. So, there need to be clarity in the nuclear liability law," he added.