Take atomic energy seriously, manage it safely: Experts

The need to share worldwide research and development on nuclear energy was highlighted by experts at a symposium on atomic energy today on the third day of Indian Science Congress here.
"My deep conviction is that the world is facing energy supply requirement which is not easy to fulfil. I do believe that we're depending on 80 per cent of our energy consumption from fossil fuels which cannot last forever for many reasons," Bernard Bigot of French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy said about the general scenario of atomic energy.
"That is why we need to take advantage of two other ways to supply energy, nuclear and renewable. Even if people are questioning about the need for nuclear energy, we have to explain it to them that there is no other way to go around and to take it seriously, manage it safely and share worldwide research and development on nuclear as well as industry so that the best knowledge reaches worldwide," he said.

The symposium on 'Holistic approach to Atomic Energy- Present and Future' was chaired by eminent nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar.
The other speakers included S P Sukhatme of IIT Mumbai, Shekhar Basu of BARC, Mumbai, Dhiraj Bora from Institute for Plasma Research, Gandhinagar, R K Sinha of the Department for Atomic Energy and Arunabha Ghosh, Council on Energy, Environment and Water.
Sukhatme spoke about atomic energy and its needs.

"We give subsidised electricity to wrong people. We need to increase electricity prices at the higher level. Prices should be different for different people, higher prices for richer people and lower prices for people who don't earn well," he said.

Basu concentrated on application of atomic energy in healthcare, cancer treatment, medicine using radio pharmaceuticals, agriculture, nuclear desalination, etc.
"We provided world class facilities which will attract Indian as well as International students," he said.
"Technology developed for fusion could provide contribution to one of the greatest challenges of mankind. Spin off technology will be beneficial to the societies," Bora said.
"The session was very informative and we thought it is a step towards our future. We are looking forward to more such sessions," students of the AEJC school said after the symposium.
"The audience response to the symposium was amazing and the sessions were fully packed," said Ancy Jose, Senate Member, University of Mumbai.