Our Correspondent
Minister of State for Department of Atomic Energy, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that India had one of the best nuclear capabilities of the world and the country was committed to use its nuclear capabilities for peaceful purposes.
Briefing media in New Delhi on the completion of one year of NDA government, Dr Singh said country is marching towards the goal set up by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to triple its nuclear power capability by 2023-24.
He said the Nuclear Power Corporation has achieved the highest power generation ever of 37,835 million units in 2014-15. He informed that the Kudankulam unit-2 is getting closer to commissioning.
Strongly denying that nuclear power generation adversely affects the health of the people, the minister said studies have proved it wrong.
He also announced that the government has launched an insurance pool to the tune of Rs. 1,500 crore in a bid to offset financial burden of foreign nuclear suppliers.
The insurance pool is mandatory under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, CLND Act.
This was announced by Minister also observed that several projects such as the long-pending Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojna that were held up in its absence, are now expected to move forward after setting up of the pool.
R K Sinha, Secretary in the Department of Atomic Energy, also said that it would be a solution for suppliers’ concerns about liability from nuclear risks.
Clauses in the CLND Act, which give the operator the Right to Recourse and allow it to sue the suppliers in case of any accident, were seen as being a major hindrance to the growth of the nuclear industry.
These concerns led to the formation of the nuclear insurance pool. Dr Singh said country is marching towards increasing to three times its nuclear power capability by 2023-24.
He said the Nuclear Power Corporation has achieved the highest power generation ever of 37,835 million units in 2014-15.
He informed that the Kudankulam unit 2 is getting closer to commissioning.
Dr Singh said, government has taken several initiatives to boost the civil nuclear energy sector in the country which includes civil nuclear agreement with Australia.
He also informed the government has made significant efforts in augmenting fuel supplies from both domestic and foreign sources.
Strongly denying that nuclear power generation adversely affects the health of the people, the minister said studies have proved it wrong.
The minister said to create awareness among people about atomic energy, the government will set up a Nuclear Hall in the national capital.