OREANDA-NEWS. October 16, 2015. The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh has said that India’s nuclear programme underlines “Make in India” initiative and recent achievements through indigenous resources have demonstrated India’s enormous potential in the field of nuclear science and research.

Addressing the “India Nuclear Energy Summit 2015” in Mumbai today, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the last year-and-a-half has been eventful in more ways than one. On the one hand, it was during this period that a new government took over headed by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi who has a natural scientific temper and on the other hand, it was during the same period when the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) observed Diamond Jubilee of its establishment as a tribute to its founding father Homi J. Bhabha. It is also a vindication of Homi Bhabha’s mission that today India has become a frontrunner in the world in the field of nuclear energy and has also successfully proved its ability to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, he added.

Allaying fears and apprehensions of some manufacturers and suppliers, Dr. Jitendra Singh reiterated that the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act of 2010 does not place anybody at disadvantage. The Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP) will cover the operators’ liability under the CLND Act, 2010 and adequately address the liability related concerns of national as well as international suppliers, he said.

For any scientific venture to be viable in the long run, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, it has to have social applicability and at the same time also be economically viable. In this regard, he referred to the Department of Atomic Energy’s social contribution in areas of health, literacy and clean drinking water and on the economic front, he emphasized the important future role of nuclear energy for long term energy security of India.

Referring to various important ongoing programmes, Dr. Jitendra Singh mentioned the 3-stage nuclear power programme with Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) in the first stage, Fast Breeder Reactors in the second stage and Thorium based reactors to be put up in the third stage. He stressed that although the programme is indigenous, India has also entered into agreements with several countries like France, Russia and USA to establish a large generation capacity.

Dr. R.K. Sinha, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. Ron Oberth, President, Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries, Miss Natalia Kudryashova, Counsellor, Russian Federation, Shri S.K. Malhotra, Chairman, India Nuclear Energy Summit, Dr. Sunil Felix, Nuclear Counsellor in the French Embassy and Shri Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India also spoke in the inaugural session.