Indian scientists applaud: Will end our nuke winter

Indian nuclear scientists are elated over the way the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal has finally worked out, more or less on the lines they d...

Indian nuclear scientists are elated over the way the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal has finally worked out, more or less on the lines they desired. This acceptance, they hope, will let them join the international mainstream and remove decades of mistrust and isolation.

Scientists are happy that they have been able to retain the independence to pursue the development of the three-stage nuclear programme. While the fast breeder reactor will be out of safeguards, the entire fuel cycle and research and development programme will be in Indian control.

8220;I am very happy with the deal8221; said M R Srinivasan, a nuclear engineer and member of the Atomic Energy Commission, Mumbai who described 8220;it as a good agreement in practical terms8221;. He confirmed that at an informal meeting of the AEC late this afternoon all members, including chairman Anil Kakodkar, welcomed the agreement since 8220;it re-establishes India8217;s capabilities in the international stage while removing the decades of isolation in which atomic energy in India was developed8221;. On the issue of 8220;India specific safeguards8221; that could in future be a divisive issue, Srinivasan feels 8220;we can live with it8221;, saying you 8220;lose some to gain some in every negotiation8221;.

P K Iyengar, a former AEC chairman, feels it is a little too early to be euphoric since the 8220;devil lies in the detail8221;. Expressing 8220;cautious optimism8221;, he said the 8220;India specific safeguards8221; has to be carefully crafted. The safeguards regime, he said, should be almost equivalent of the level of the inspection regime for the five nuclear weapons states.

8220;India8217;s energy independence will materialize only when the final assault using indigenous Thorium utilizing technologies is conquered,8221; he said, adding that the decision to retain independence at work is 8220;a welcome baby step8221;.

The end product of the first phase of negotiations 8220;seem like a win-win situation for both sides8221;, said nuclear scientist V S Ramamurthy, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, who played a critical role in the 1974 Pokhran explosion. He dubbed the negotiations of the technical aspects of the deal as 8220;a fantastic achievement single-handedly steered by Kakodkar against incredible odds8221;.

Dr A Gopalakrishnan, former chief of the Indian Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, said: 8220;It is a very good deal for India8230; India has been able to negotiate both an in-perpetuity safeguards directly linked to an in-perpetuity supply of fuel.8221;