N-power "dependable, clean" energy option: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that nuclear energy was a "dependable and clean" option for satisfying the growing energy needs of the country as it looks to achieve rapid economic development.
Addressing a public gathering after laying the foundation stone for the 2,800 megawatt nuclear power plant in Gorakhpur village in Fatehabad district of Haryana, Singh said, "A long way has to be covered to meet our growing power demands. Nuclear power is a dependable and clean option.
"India is among the very few nations which have developed technology to install nuclear power plants."
The Rs 23,502 crore project under the Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojna will have four units, each of 700MW. In the first phase, 1400MW units will be completed at a cost of Rs 21,000 crore by 2020-21, he said.

Singh, who made his second visit to Haryana in 10 days, congratulated the people of Haryana and the state government for their support for the project of national importance, the first-of-its-kind in this region.
In his address, Singh stressed on the need for economic progress to ensure better living standards and emphasised the importance of creating job opportunities for the youth.
Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, too, were present on the occasion along with Union Ministers V Narayanasamy and Kumari Sejla and Sirsa MP, Ashok Tanwar.