Although the Indian government wants to promote the proposed Indo-US nuclear deal in terms of power generation, the deal has very little to do with power generation. Nuclear power contributes about 2 percent of the current electricity generations in India. At present, India was producing 3,300 MW. In 2020, the production would be 7,000 MW.
According to the Planning Commission and the Prime Minister, the capacity of nuclear power would be 20,000 MW in the year 2020. In order to get there India will buy second-hand reactors from the U.S. to produce 13,000 MW of nuclear power. India will have to spend about Rs. 2 lakh crore for reactors and another Rs. 8 lakh crore to set them up with fuel facilities to achieve that goal. The Indian budget is only Rs. 6.5 lakh crore per year. Thus, India will spend two times more than the country’s annual budget on setting up these vintage reactors only. Even if India were to achieve a 50% increase in nuclear power generation (which is unlikely) such a step would only increase India’s overall electricity output by one percent at most, and would only increase India’s overall energy output by a fraction of one percent. The reason, USA is pushing so hard that India should accept the deal, is, that, this deal is nothing but nuclear non-proliferation treaty in a different name. If MM Singh is a democrat, he should have organized a Referendum or at least a voting in the joint session of the Parliament.
RE:Left done right thing for India.
by Tamal Basu on Jul 08, 2008 03:37 PM Permalink
May be that at this moment it is not economically justified. But can you forecast the price of oil to reach in next ten years? And that's the time when the need for nuclear energy will be felt. And who gave the right to CPIM and it's partners to blackmail the government? What credibility Prakash Karat and his partners have? M/s Karats have reservation as the deal has to be ratified through USA, bur as a senior journalist from Bengal exposed few days ago in a popular bengalee news channel, this family had visited USA 11 times in last four years. It appears there is no ideological difference, only showing anti-imperialism stand to desi comrades.And all that when the only achivement of this Karat is to win a student election in JNU (also lost one), never even run in a panchayat election. With this creditibility, he can put the govt. in ransom. Pity and misfortune of India for this coalition politics.By the way, Mulayam's support will also not be cheap, he will demand his pound of flesh.
RE:Left done right thing for India.
by ebrahim jakkiriya on Jul 08, 2008 03:30 PM Permalink
You are saying Nuclear power contributes about 2% of the current electricity ? Could you please explain how ? Alternatively if you are so wise suggest how you are going to meet the demand in the coming years and at what cost and resources available. Are you for national and industrial development ? Let your points to be known to the people. BJP wants this deal just because it is from Congress they oppose. Here again they are anti nationalist
