Bush arrives, N-deal may go through

BUSH IN INDIA

Even as US President George Bush arrives tonight on a three-day visit to India, top sources say India and the US may have reached an agreement on the civilian nuclear deal.

As part of the agreement, 14 reactors out of 22 are likely to be put on the civilian list, sources added.

Of the two test reactors, Dhruva and CIRUS, the latter is likely to be placed under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection, and will be eligible for nuclear fuel from abroad. It will, however, be barred from contributing to India's military programme.

The proposal was part of discussions between Indian officials and US Under Secretary Nicholas Burns when he came to India last week. India's concern that its strategic assets should not be jeopardised has been met, sources say.

The conversion of Thorium into Uranium is crucial to several military programmes in the future including the nuclear-powered submarine that India is working on. The facilities that can carry out the conversion will continue to be on the military list.

According to sources, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh shared India's proposal with core members of his Cabinet and the United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday evening. No confirmation was available from the US side.

India had initially offered just 10 facilities for conversion from dual to civilian use.

However, the US Administration had to satisfy the following concerns of the Congress: First, whether India's declaration of civilian facilities was complete and if the IAEA would be allowed to visit these unhampered; second, if India's export control systems were functioning; and most importantly, whether US assistance would further India's nuclear weapons programme. It would appear that most of these concerns have been met.