Criticism to Civil N-Cooperation Exaggerated: Srinivasan

Former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman M R Srinivasan today termed the various objections that were raised against the Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation treaty as "highly exaggerated and politically driven".

Addressing a seminar on "Energy options for a greener future" organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here, he said certain objections that were raised against the agreement that by signing the treaty India would lose its independent foreign policy was "highly exaggerated and politically driven".

"One must remember that in the agreement, no limit has been placed on India's nuclear weapon capability", Srinivasan said.

"We can build any amount of nuclear power stations", he said, adding "nuclear weapons are made never to be used. How many can India make", thereby emphasizing that transfer of nuclear technology would not adversely affect India which "still will be suitably equipped to take care of its own needs".

Srinivasan called upon industries to play pivotal role as a supplier of nuclear equipment and designs.

On private participation for production of nuclear power, he said "it is a complex technology, lot of risk taking is involved. Time is not ripe for it as yet".

Srinivasan, however, suggested that they (private firms) could come in as minority partners with Nuclear Power Corporation.