Amid initiatives by various countries to scale down nuclear power generation in the wake of last year's Fukushima accident, India would continue to pursue its three-stage nuclear programme to raise nuclear's share in the country's energy mix.
India has got all the necessary capabilities and expertise to tackle safety related issues involving nuclear energy. Srikanta K Panigrahi, advisor to the Prime Minister and director-general, Indian Institute of Sustainable Development however, insisted that nuclear energy was quite prime and fundamental source of energy to address the issue of climate change.
Panigrahi, who was speaking at the India Nuclear Energy Summit 2012, argued that clean energy was the need of hour and nuclear energy was not only clean, safe and cheap compared to fossil fuel-based projects, but also in comparison to renewable and solar projects.
"There are apprehensions raised about safety of nuclear power projects in the wake of Fukushima accident that took place last year. Germany decided to walk out of nuclear. There are safety challenges but India has adequate capabilities to meet those challenges. The country is further increasing its capabilities," he informed.
According to Panigrahi, currently 20 power plants with generation capacity of 4,870 MW were under operation while nuclear reactors of 3,160 MW were under construction. "India has initiated eight missions for clean energy and nuclear energy is key to it. Nuclear plants require less land and investments compared with renewable energy such as wind and solar. As I said earlier, the country is determined to carry out nuclear capacity addition when thw whole world is rethinking," he noted.
S K Malhotra, head, public awareness, Department of Atomic Energy said the time has come to look ahead especially India has come out of nuclear isolation after signing of several civil nuclear treaties.
"The Prime Minister in his address to the parliament on May 16 has reaffirmed government's intent to pursue nuclear capacity addition. The 12th plan has begun and all efforts will be made to meet targets so that it becomes a reality," he noted.
