So if nuclear power is affordable, cheap, dependable, safe and environment-friendly, why does its embrace continue to be half-hearted? While some critical issues remain to be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction such as the management of the radioactive waste and the spill-over effect of civilian nuclear technology into weapon programmes, it is the exorbitant costs of building the nuclear power plants that continue to prevent this source from being exploited to its full potential. Despite this, nuclear power is increasingly being seen as a viable solution to the energy problem that confronts the world today. It is time India joined the world in recognising that nuclear power is “the least worst solution to our urgent need for carbon-free fuel source”, and finalising the Indo-US nuclear deal at the earliest will be a small, albeit significant, step in that direction.

The writer teaches at King’s College London

harsh.pant@kcl.ac.uk