Director of Radiochemistry and Isotope Group of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, Dr. Venugopal has come to Jabalpur to participate in the nine day long national workshop on radiochemistry and application of radioisotope, being organised jointly by BARC and physics and chemistry deptts. of Govt. Model Science College from 14 Dec. 2004.
In his address, he informed that nine more nuclear reactors are coming up in the country besides the 14 already existing ones. He said that the country would be in a position to produce 20,000 MW of nuclear power by 2020. At the moment the country’s nuclear reactors are generating 2700 MW power which is 2% of the power consumption of the country whereas 80% of the power in USA is being generated in their 126 nuclear stations. Similarly 80% of power in France is being produced from nuclear stations. As of now, he said that our country is having 600 units of power per capita (per person) per annum. At present nuclear energy is being sold @ Rs.3.50 per unit, eventhough the cost of the nuclear plants, is not very expensive and is comparable to the installation cost of thermal power stations.
India is one of the seven most developed countries in nuclear energy. And it is natural that nuclear energy for peaceful purposes like electricity generation is not opposed on moral grounds. The conventional sources of energy are limited. After the exhaution of the conventional sources of energy, the humanity will depend on nuclear energy.
However, even the other renewable sources of energy like geothermal power and tidal power has not been properly exploited. Moreover, the sources of hydel power lie untapped. In contrast, while these sources have not been properly focussed for development of their technology, and also according to some estimates taking into account the various clean sources of energy, they would be deficient in fully meeting the increasing need of energy at the global level. It is in such situation that nuclear energy seems to be an alluring source that is available and easily implementable.
The nuclear technology even for peaceful use like electricity generation is often opposed by countries like USA and France who are meeting 80% of their power demand by nuclear energy. Even though environmentalists often oppose nuclear power even for peaceful purposes, some of their concerns might be valid eg. in handling issues like nuclear waste and spent fuel dump. However the opposition of advanced western countries are often based on issues like security and the threat that the processed nuclear materials might be used for production of weapon grade nuclear fuel or at worse would fall into rogue hands. India has been a responsible nuclear power. And it is on this basis that India is laying claim on the permanent security council seat, alongwith other nations like Japan and Germany.
Today India has a large number of scientific manpower, and it has developed U-234, U-235, U-233, Thorium-232 and Plutonium-239 technology which is not available with many other countries. India has also developed its own fabrication technology. We have necessary Heavy Water plants and nuclear reactors and others will be established soon. India is also exporting heavy water to countries like China. Today India has indigenous nuclear reactors and is not dependent on the developed countries for the nuclear programmes.
There is no programme of any nuclear power plant in MP currently, eventhough there was a proposed nuclear power plant at Chutka. The Patha- Chutka village is situated in the Narayangunj developement block of Mandla Distt. and the concept of a nuclear power station at Chutka is about 21 years old. For test purposes , the Narmada water was taken to Mumbai. In 1983 Atomic Energy Commission carried out an extensive survey in the country for locations to establish indiginously designed nuclear power plants. For site selection in MP, Govt. of MP was assigned to coordinate with AEC. MP Govt. assigned M.P. Electricity Board as the Agency to suggest a location. For construction of nucear power plants, the necessary requirements are less populous area, suitable from environmental and defence point of view, foundation of the plant, displacement of the existing population from the proposed site, availability of water, cement, steel and labour. Uranium and Thorium are brought from outside. Apart from these suitability for disposal of nuclear waste and effluents are also examied.
Survey and Investigation Circle of MPEB examined four locations viz. Patha- Chutka in Mandla Distt. and one each in Gwaliar, Shivpuri, and Hoshangabad and proposal for the location at Patha - Chutka was finalised. It appears that in the absence of any powerful lobby to back the proposal, it has been thrown into the wastebin which is evident from the statement of Dr.Venugopal, the Director of BARC that he has no knowledge about any proposed Chutka nuclear power plant in MP.