N-separation a win-win situation, says Kakodkar

Coming out in support for the Indo-US deal, Atomic Energy Commission chairman, and Department of Atomic Energy DAE secretary Anil Kakodkar...

Coming out in support for the Indo-US deal, Atomic Energy Commission chairman, and Department of Atomic Energy DAE secretary Anil Kakodkar, flanked by top DAE scientists, today affirmed that the separation of civilian and military facilities would not hamper India8217;s strategic programme.

At a media briefing at Anushakti Nagar, in response to a question whether it was fair to permanently categorise facilities for civilian use while the US and other nations could exercise an option to withdraw from such a categorisation, Kakodkar said that the separation arrangement depends on a set of conditions.

8216;8216;We8217;ve to be practical. We8217;ll have an India-specific arrangement but under a set of conditions of permanent supplies, like fuel availability,8217;8217; Kakodkar said. 8216;8216;We would even stockpile fuel for a lifetime. So the question of disruption of supplies does not arise8230;we8217;ll be able to take corrective measures in case of any disruption,8217;8217; he added.

He, however, emphasised: 8216;8216;Nothing has been done under pressure. It8217;s a good, win-win situation.8217;8217;

And in case the US Congress did not approve the deal, it would be back to 8216;8216;business as usual,8217;8217; for us, said Kakodkar. 8216;8216;But I feel positive. I hope it will happen.8217;8217;

Kakodkar opened his statement by emphasising that India8217;s research and development and strategic programme would continue in accordance with national interest. 8216;8216;There8217;s no reduction in our strategic programme. There8217;ll be more reactors, and we may add more facilities on the strategic side. The decision on status of future reactors will be taken at an appropriate time.8217;8217;

The 14 reactors to go into civilian domain will be identified in a few days, and safeguards are not yet fully negotiated with the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA, said Kakodkar, adding that there was a 8216;8216;lot of preparation8217;8217; required for the 2006-2014 separation plan.

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He termed the shutdown of Cirus reactor in 2010 as a 8216;8216;logical step8217;8217; to avoid safeguards inspectors inside the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre BARC. 8216;8216;Cirus has all along been used only for peaceful purposes,8217;8217; Kakodkar said.