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Maintaining that 10 nuclear power plants have been approved and are in the pipeline in various states, K N Vyas, Atomic Energy Commission chief and director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), said on Tuesday, “There is no sense of setting up a laboratory if there is reservation by local residents.”
Referring to the opposition against the Jaitapur power plant in Ratnagiri district, Vyas, however, said no project will be scrapped. “We are appealing to the local residents… Technical and commercial negotiation is underway. We are also talking to foreign suppliers,” he added.
Vyas was addressing scientists and researchers at the 109th birth anniversary of Homi Bhabha, the founder of BARC, which celebrated its Founder’s Day on Tuesday.
Stating that work on two nuclear plants has already begun in Harayana, Vyas added that plants are also set to come up in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka.
“When it comes to nuclear liability, the government has allowed that supplier does not need to have personal liability, but could be part of a supplier pool to share collective liability,” he said.
Dr Anil Kakodkar, president of National Academy of Sciences and chief guest on Tuesday’s event, said the issue of nuclear liability has delayed nuclear projects. “But it is expected to speed up now,” he added.
While research reactor Dhruva continues to function in BARC, a new reactor, Apsara, will soon increase scope. A senior scientist said radio-pharmaceuticals productions will increase to aid hospitals treating cancer patients.
So far, 6,000 batches of F-18 radio pharmaceuticals have been supplied to 18 hospitals in Mumbai for nuclear medicine. “As demand increases with new cancer facilities, we hope Apsara reactor will yield more production,” a scientist said on the sidelines of Tuesday’s event. Dhurva has produced 535 radioisotopes so far.
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