Job cut out for new AEC chief: Putting nuclear programme on fast track

A BARC official described Banerjee,who was awarded the Padma Shri in 2005 and has made contributions to several materials related areas,as “professionally sound,a good orator,humble and modest,and highly knowledgeable”,and added that like Kakodkar,Banerjee,who has over 40 years of research experience,was known for being simple and down to earth. “Now we have to do things on a larger scale,” said Kakodkar,while speaking about the challenges faced by his successor,adding that he needed to take the nuclear programme ahead with more speed. He said Banerjee was a very eminent scientist,who had specialised in material science and led BARC with distinction. “I am sure he will take the (nuclear) programme forward,” he said,describing Banerjee as “fully familiar with all aspects of atomic energy”.

Taking over as the head of the Indian nuclear establishment in the birth centenary year of Homi Bhabha,regarded as the father of the Indian nuclear programme,and at a time when the country is looking forward to the expansion of its nuclear programme with the civilian nuclear deal being inked,Banerjee is a product of 11th batch of the BARC training school and has published scientific papers in various national and international journals.

Officials from the Department of Atomic Energy said despite the change in guard,the basic policy of the department would remain the same,and the operationalisation of the deal would continue. “According to me,the challenge is to strengthen the research and development base of the nuclear programme and help in expanding the nuclear power sector,” said P K Iyengar,former chairman of the AEC,who described Banerjee as a “very good man” and a “self-made man with indigenous affiliations and contributions”.