Nuclear energy is only costlier than coal of all the non-renewable resources. coal which you probably know has very big environmental costs and is dirtiest source(if you have heard about global warming). Renewable resources have their limits which is why no country has been able to harness them to make them major contributors yet but work is on. 1. Solar - too expensive - 5 times Nuclear. 2. Wind - Limited scope but currently doing better than Solar. 3. Hydel - Big but limited by rivers and no major possibilities in near future.
Thorium is a research project and has been ongoing in India for more than 30 years but we are working in isolation and other countries working together by sharing technology so we are behind. Unfortunately, energy can not be wished into appearing and among all that is available, N Power has most potential which India has not been able to utilize. Which is why Kalam/MMS /others think India would do better with Nuclear Energy.
People who are genuinely afraid that India might have sold out to US have nothing to fear. India can import from any country in NSG and there are 45 of them. If US offers best reactors then buy from there. Also only reactors which India dictates will be in Nuclear safeguard and rest can be used for defense research. What is the problem there? BJP supporters, don't worry, even BJP would have signed this or similar deal as in their heart they want rapid progress and are rightists which makes them natural allies of US.
