Yesterday India and France signed 5 deals related to supply of nuclear material for energy needs. The deal ensures French suppliers can supply nuclear material to India for its civilian nuclear activities. India is hoping that new power plants will add 10,000 MW of power to the grid. As per Indian laws, the supplier assumes full responsibility incase of hazards due to nuclear material which could potentially slowdown the deal with France. However, is this a proud moment for us?
Agreed that we are a developing nation with double digit GDP growth prospects for next 10 years. Should we adapt the same policies as Developed Nations did in growing? Can we make a difference as Indians by investing in alternate technologies and better policies that can sustain our environment? Do we have the capabilities to deal with nuclear waste generated from the civilian nuclear reactors? Is it a race we are in to go after GDP year after year growing aggressively at any cost (sometimes including our mother Earth in that cost) ?
Just google around for the protests in Europe over nuclear waste. There is still no technological solution possible to deal with radioactive waste in a harmless way. There are strong protests in Europe to restrict nuclear power plants and the governments there are bending to these demands. It should now be obvious to you, why the west wants to sell nuclear material to east.
