In doldrums
THE country's nuclear ambitions have turned to ashes. Faced with a severe cash crunch, the Nuclear Power Corporation is unable to carry on the construction of new atomic power plants. A parliamentary committee reviewing the country's nuclear energy programme, has pulled up the government for ignoring atomic power. Reportedly, India has lost more than us $676 million on equipment which has become practically useless.
The country is in a tight situation. It cannot ask for foreign aid for its nuclear energy programme because of its position on nuclear proliferation. The government on its part says it does not have the money to fund the programme.
The crisis has led to slashing of the decade-old target of installing 10,000 mw of nuclear energy capacity by 2000 AD, to less than a third. At least us $285 million is needed annually to raise the nuclear power capacity 'to meet the expected demand of 300,000 mw, according to R Chidambaram, head of the Atomic Energy Commission.
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