TOTAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE INDO-US NUCLEAR DEAL P. S. Deodhar
We as Indians should be proud of our Nuclear Energy Initiatives taken since the 60s. Although India's nuclear energy program today is mired in problems, its beginnings were filled with hope. Many of the fundamental ideas about the role of nuclear energy in India can be traced back to Dr. Homi Bhabha, the architect of India's nuclear establishment, and Jawaharlal Nehru, the country's first prime minister. Dr. Bhabha and Pandit Nehru viewed nuclear technology as a way to jump-start the new nation's social and economic development. In August 1948, while in the midst of setting up India's Atomic Energy Commission, Nehru argued that, “if we are to remain abreast in the world as a nation which keeps ahead of things, we must develop atomic energy.” It may be difficult to believe but it is said that in early 60s, US Government had tried to persuade Pandit Nehru to make Atom Bomb with their help but he had turned it down. Atomic Weapons had no place in his scheme of things. But as someone with high scientific temper, he had already given total free hand to Dr. Homi Bhabha to develop Indian’s own Atomic Energy Program. For a developing country, India has since them pursued a uniquely ambitious and far-reaching nuclear technology program. Department of Atomic Energy was formed in 1954 by a Presidential Decree. Today India has developed expertise and facilities covering the entire nuclear fuel cycle, from
India being a sitting duck for Pakistan and China due to signing of this deal is very very unlikely. Author is probably assuming India will have to give up Nuclear capability but that is not the case at all.
India is working on all the reasonable forms of energy and has made some progress. Wind turbines have been and are being setup in India and India is 4th largest wind power producer in World. Also, India is working on Solar capability, and had reserved 35000 sqKm in Rajasthan for solar projects but unfortunately, this technology is nowhere near it's prime time. Lot's of research going on and with nanotech, they hope to increase efficiency by 2-3 times and the costs are coming down too but at this stage, it does not compete with Nuclear. Also note, no nation has been able to harness Solar for any serious production whereas there are number of countries which have big contributions from Nuclear. Even states like Florida are talking about new nuclear plants to reduce dependence on fossil plants and to reduce green house gases.
Nuclear energy is the only other suitable energy which can make big difference(20000 MW by 2020) and government can not work on due to international restraints. India will never be able to make a consensus on something like this and waste all the time as other nations gallop ahead. Important people have studied it and think it is good for India and people who oppose do not have any strong logic. Already 2 years were wasted, now we should move.
One simple case will show why the deal is in India's favor. The fact that foreign uranium will be used for power means that our precious, local uranium can be used for whatever we deem fit. Also, having a minimum nuclear deterrent with good delivery mechanisms is all it takes. From a strategic point of view, a booming economy is a BIGGER weapon, which will ensure India's future and help eliminate poverty from the country. The author needs to get over his colonial mindset and not be so paranoid of foreigners. Helping India become a great economic power means it needs lots of power. I am not saying nuclear power will be the panacea, but its a fact that both oil and coal are not going to last beyond 30-40 years. India needs alternatives and this deal will go a long way in securing one piece of it.
RE:A booming economy is a bigger weapon than a nuclear one.
by Sincere Citizen on Jul 26, 2008 06:12 PM Permalink
Your case is wrong and makes a simplistic assumption that we will quickly build cheap nuclear power plants (or get the current ones upto mark) then get cheap imported fuel and use it properly.
First every time our politicians get something from outside its almost always mired with kickbacks and bad deals (for country not them)
Second our reputation to get anything good working and on time even after right price is paid to the client as well as all parties involved is dismal, a case in point may be the Russian sub we were supposed to get both cost and time limit has been exceeded.
And finally even if by some magical miracle we get all three working it will maximum give us 10% of our power.
And if MP's can be bribed what is the gurantee that some wise crack terror network wont bribe our security and representatives and steal the Uranium to use it back on us ?
RE:A booming economy is a bigger weapon than a nuclear one.
by Sandeep on Jul 27, 2008 12:19 PM Permalink
I think you have not understood what Guest was trying to say. Infact what he said is exactly the fear which Pakistan and other international critics have. They also fear that with import allowed for civilian reactors, Indian Uranium will be freed up and can be diverted to defense sector. Nothing is wrong in above.
Also, maybe India needs to open up power sector to private players, especially the ones under safeguards. Countries have setup Nuclear plants in 4 years time with current technology. If your sole opposition is based on fear that India can not implement any project involving imports, it is quite sad and then India is in big trouble and Nuclear power is not it's least of worries but fortunately it is not so. There are a number of plants/projects setup with imports and they have done reasonably ok.
RE:A booming economy is a bigger weapon than a nuclear one.
by Sincere Citizen on Jul 26, 2008 06:12 PM Permalink
And nuclear reactors are not the most cost effective solutions for generating electricity anyways.
RE:RE:A booming economy is a bigger weapon than a nuclear one.
by Sandeep on Jul 27, 2008 12:24 PM Permalink
Here the question is not of most cost effective. But what are some of the effective ways which India can implement.
Coal is at this time cheapest purely from economic point of view but The environment cost of coal is much higher. People are talking about reducing dependence on coal based plants nowadays and here we have folks trying to go back. Even US has started reconsidering Nuclear plants and Solar plants and shut down some coal plants due to global warming concerns.
Also the cost of electricity using coal is cheaper today, but will go up quickly in future. If you were told, India is going to be importing coal for the mega power projects coming up, will you admit there is need to go for something else in a big way? In fact, Tata power had indicated they will need to import 2 million tons of coal for the power plant they are setting up. Reliance power also had said this sometime back. Soon countries in neighborhood will start increasing cost of coal as demand increases. Nuclear energy is the only other suitable energy which can make big difference(20-40000 MW by 2020s and 25% by 2050) and government can not work on due to international restraints.
The Congress, the Commies and the BJP have always worked in collusion with each other, whether it was ENRON or MONSANTO or the 123 deal. They are simply fooling the ordinary people by enacting a dram of the WWF kind. I don't know when Srini, the fool will wake up to this reality. Shiva Shiva! save him.
Save India from BJP n its Supporters No leader in BJP has good vision towards Indias development.They just want to come in power anyhow(by fooling Hindus in the name of Hindutva)These people can just make Hndus,Muslims n Christians fight eachother which is not good for the development of our country.So please donot vote BJP if u r a true INDIAN.Plz save india form BJP n its supporters.
RE:Mera bharath Mahan,Saare BJP wale baimaan
by Sincere Citizen on Jul 26, 2008 06:14 PM Permalink
Thats exactly what Congress has been doing too so whats the difference ? I mean even Communists do that.
Its a simple logic which any politician in India uses , reason is because people like you who have a morbid hatred for any other faith except yours.
If you were really neutral you would have flayed all appeasement policies of any religion.
RE:Mera bharath Mahan,Saare BJP wale baimaan
by Tarun Bhargava on Jul 28, 2008 05:40 PM Permalink
BJP is not good because the Vatican funded activities will have to shut down. The hoodwinking of people in the name of religion and using gimmicks to lure them will have to stop. The BJP in its short tenure has proved that it works for the interest of the country and the majority and not for vested interests and for minorities who are busy trying to decimate the local culture as they have done in countries around the world.
If BJP would have signed this nuclear deal, he would have been more happy. I donot even believe one thing in this article. Read all his previous articles.
RE:Rajeev Srinivasan is a congres hater.
by Sincere Citizen on Jul 26, 2008 06:15 PM Permalink
No, we would have not been happy if it was the same as now. And secondly I would oppose nuclear energy for its hazard value and expense burden, be it either BJP or Congress or anyone else.
RE:Rajeev Srinivasan is a congres hater.
by Sandeep on Jul 27, 2008 12:27 PM Permalink
Nuclear is costlier than coal but is about same cost as any petroleum based plant. India can not rely on Coal only as major contributor. There have to be more options in parallel.
"In that case why have China's proxies, India's Communists, been so loud in their opposition to the deal? Maybe China has only been pretending to oppose the deal as a rhetorical ploy?" --- i too thought about this... when kids refuse to eat we say "don't eat" and the belligerent kids comply and eat... India is not a country, it is a nonsense... unless the original people, the sanyasis, the holy people, the brave ones are given due respect! But in Kali Yuga it looks like even to have water to bathe and drink is a great achievement, so i have no cribs... let us all be sycophants, idiots and people without any self respect and strength... at least then the Lord Krishna will incarnate and guide us to our real greatness like he did to Arjuna!
RE:India is becoming a non-sense... edging towards cowardliness and shamelessness
by Manjula A on Jul 25, 2008 02:29 PM Permalink
Shame on you, to say such things about India, whatever may be the disappointment you faced.
I think Rajeev has put all so well that none can add better to the whole scenorio. This deal is a sell out, and it didnt make sence from the beggining, even to us non experts. But the congress and the allies kept pushing it as though it was their last fight. And we have such myopic corporate leaders who just to get a peice of the trillion door deals over the next 2-3 decades will sell their country and laud the deal. What exactly are these guys made off, isnt there more to them than money. And I have very little to say of the first family as I didnt expect anything different from them. They care a damn about the security of the country.
RE:What a peice
by jay b on Jul 24, 2008 08:43 PM Permalink
This deal is going to be about 100 billion $ so you can imagine the amt of money being made by the related entities be it india or the US.
Also we need to improve relations with our neighbours like china,pakistan,... rather then cozying up on every issue with regions on the other side of the world. At the same time we need to keep our sovereignity intact.
RE:What a peice
by Sandeep on Jul 27, 2008 12:31 PM Permalink
This deal will cost nothing if India so chooses. India can decide to remain short on power and import no new reactors and then this deal will be almost free. But if it is decided to put in more reactors to increase power demand quickly, money will be needed. How much again depends on the needs.
RE:RE:RE:RE:Please answer these questions for yourself
by Kris iyer on Jul 24, 2008 05:20 PM Permalink
Sau Sen, Well Said. The UPA, our media and the ruling class of Hindus are all maintaining a conspiracy of silence.
this is pretty much the worst thing about this issue : today you do not know whom to trust! we do not know who is lying. we do not know who is pretending. we do not know whether something is good for the country or not. we do not know whether this deal will further our interests or ensure our slavery. did the usa and china coordinate this to cap and rollback our nuclear capability? this is so typical of a subverted and divided country. but i would consider one valid thumb rule here : do not base your interests on somebodys goodwill.
