As the only nation to be devastated by the consequences of a nuclear attack, the people of Japan can be expected to be particularly anxious about the fallout from a nuclear meltdown in the Fukushima-Daiichi complex in northern Japan. The two reactors owned and operated by the Tokyo Electric Company, Asia’s largest utility, are among the largest in the world and have been built to meet stringent safety standards. This tragic accident, caused by an unprecedented combination of a huge earthquake and an enormous tsunami, is a reminder that no system is ever foolproof and there can only be varying degrees of probability of failure. However, just as the sinking of the Titanic did not bring maritime activity to a halt, this accident too will not bring the future of nuclear power into question. It will, of course, result in even more stringent standards being adopted for nuclear power plants.
As an island economy with few natural sources of energy Japan has no option but to depend on nuclear power. India, which has thermal and hydro power sources, will also need to tap nuclear power in years to come to sustain its growth and development. Hence, learning from other people’s tragedies is a must for the Indian nuclear power industry. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did well to order a review of safety at Indian nuclear installations and reassure Parliament on this score. India is not unique in being home to nuclear sceptics. Even as a “nuclear renaissance” is underway globally, voices against nuclear energy continue to find expression in India. The challenge before the government and energy policy strategists is to reassure public opinion that India not only has a good track record in safety of nuclear reactors, but that it will continue to observe the highest standards of safety.
India’s rising demand for power means that it cannot ignore the nuclear option. Coal-fired and hydro power also come at a cost in terms of the environmental and ecological fallout. Coal contributes to carbon emissions and hydro power dislocates the habitat and its occupants. Despite some promising finds, it will be a while before gas-fired plants can significantly contribute to overall energy supply, given that the requisite infrastructure still needs to be put in place. Moreover, the probability of a similar nuclear mishap in India is considerably lower. Japan and the entire ‘arc of fire’ along the Pacific, lies in a high-risk zone for seismic mishaps with a risk rating of 8 or 9. For Indian reactor sites, the corresponding numbers range from 2 to 4. Indian reactors are also designed to withstand earthquakes. While the Narora reactor in Uttar Pradesh withstood an earthquake measured 6.4 on the Richter scale, Kakrapar continued to function normally even during the 6.9 point Bhuj earthquake. Reactors at Kudankulam survived the tsunami in 2004. New technology, including the ‘radiation catcher’ technology that is designed to help contain radiation leaks should they occur, and which is a standard feature of contemporary reactor design, will have to incorporate the lessons learnt at Fukushima. This is precisely how science has progressed, and so has technology. Mankind has repeatedly used every such tragic accident as an opportunity to extend the frontiers of human life on this planet.
