Indo-US nuke deal an additionality: Kakodkar

Delay in nuclear deal leaves scientists anguished

The Indian atomic energy establishment is least amused by the continuing delay in the passage of the Indo-US nuclear deal. At least that is the impression one gathered from the replies of Dr Anil Kakodkar, Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, about the civil nuclear pact.

Speaking to the press about the status of the deal with Washington, on the sidelines of BARC’s golden jubilee function at Tarapur, Kakodkar said that the deal was an “additionality” to the ongoing indigenous nuclear programme.

“Regardless of the outcome of the Indo-US deal, we will be pushing ahead with our indigenous programme as before.” When asked whether he had apprehensions about the passage of the deal, Kakodar, one of the architects of the July 2005 agreement, said, “The Indian prime minister has already expressed his worries in his address made before the parliament.”

When asked as to what were the chances of the pact getting passed, especially considering the change of guard in the US senate after recent elections, Kakodkar replied: “If it would have been in my hands, there would have been a 100 per cent chance of getting it passed. However, since it is not so, all we have to do is wait and see.”

“My philosophy has been that you should find solutions on your own for the nuclear programme,” he added. He refused to comment on the possible obstacles that the deal may have to face from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). He added there was no fuel shortage for power stations.