GNDU SEMINAR DEBATES NUKE DEAL
By preetasr | August 24, 2008
DIVERGENT VIEWS emerged as distinguished panelists allayed apprehensions over the nuclear deal at a seminar on ‘India’s energy crisis and Indo-us nuclear deal’ organized by Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) on Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion. India’s former Permanent Representative to the UN and former Ambassador Arundhati Ghosh said, “This deal would not solve our energy problem, but would give us freedom to make choices. We would still depend upon non-renewable and conventional sources of energy.” Terming the Indo-US deal a major diplomatic achievement for India, Gosh said,”No country would change its domestic law for another nation, but the US has done that for India. This shows that the US has realized the potential of India.”
She was firm in her claim that India was fully capable of safeguarding its national interests today, in fact better capable than it was in the 1970s. She even justified the country’s stand wherein it had voted against Tran at the IAEA to make sure that its nuclear deal with the US sees the light of day.
Speaking on ‘Relevance of International Cooperation for India’s Nuclear Power Programme’, Accelerator Safety committee Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, BARC, Chairman, Dr M.R.Iyer said that the nation could acquire 50,000 MW power by spending about Rs 2,50,000 crore on nuclear projects by 2050. “Although we have thorium in plenty we need infrastructure to tap the resource, “said Dr Iyer, terming the deal a major diplomatic success.
Emeritus Scientist, Jaipur, Dr I.P.Jain, said, “Nuclear energy would provide India with 50,000 MW only 2050, but wind power has the potential to produce 45,000 MW now itself. So, India should exploit non-conventional energy sources to meet its energy requirements.” “Hydrogen gas is now considered the most promising fuel for the future. It would provide cheap electricity, cook food, drive a car, run factories, fly jets and provide for all our domestic energy requirement,” said Dr Jain.
Talking about the safety aspects of nuclear energy, Hindustan times, Editor, Chandigarh, Kunwar Sandhu, in his keynote address, said: “The major pitfall of the deal is the safety aspect (Chernobyl in 1986), radioactive nuclear waste issues and insurance factor.” He said,” There is a dire need for fresh negotiations on Hyde Act clause on Iran and parity with china.” The major achievement of this deal is that it has brought India and the US on the same pedestal, he added.
Sandhu said the real issues related to the nuclear deal had never been debated publicly. Very few people understand the nuances of this deal.
V-C prof Dr Jai Rup Singh, who presided over the seminar, said the need of the hour was to organize debates and seminar at the university and college level to create awareness on the issue.
SOURCE-HT
Topics: Amritsar Culture, Amritsar Diary, City News |
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