Scientists opposed to deal forget no reaching power target without it

This import is impossible without the nuclear deal (the Bill is to be signed tomorrow by US President George W Bush). Perhaps, that is the reason why the DAE is more cautious in its response and is inclined to wait until the final 123 agreement is negotiated. However, former DAE heads are willing to go to the extent of taking a relook at these targets as the Bill passed by the US Congress is unacceptable to them.

‘‘We are disappointed by the end product which is different from what was agreed on July 18. If the end product remains the same, then the deal is unacceptable to us. It is a natural corollary that DAE will then have to revise its targets,’’ former DAE head M S Srinivasan, who opposed the Bill in its final shape, told The Indian Express.

It is important to note here that these targets were set well before the deal was firmed up. ‘‘We are going in for import of light water technology as an external additionality in order to accelerate our nuclear power programme. This, however, requires overcoming certain constraints imposed by international politics. Any reasonable world order can only expect countries to fulfill their international safeguards commitments and no more than that,’’ says the DAE vision document.

‘‘Indian natural uranium ores are very low in grade, mainly because the uranium produced in India is roughly six to seven times as costly compared to its price in international market. But currently India is banned from purchasing natural uranium from the international market because of NSG restrictions. Perhaps, the only roadblock in moving aggressively forward with the indigenous nuclear power programme envisioned by Bhabha is this inability to increase uranium supply,’’...