The government said the N-deal will boost the country's modernization programme as it result in the generation of an additional 20,000 MW of power in the next decade.
MUMBAI: The government on Thursday said the Indo- US civil nuclear deal will boost the country's modernization programme as it result in the generation of an additional 20,000 MW of power in the next decade.
"We believe that once this deal is operationalised, we will be able to add 20,000 MW of clean power to our generation capacity," Union Minister of State for Industry Ashwini Kumar told here.
By 2012, there will be a need for 15,800 MW for lighting every house in the country's interiors. Power is also required for tubewells. Around 75 per cent of this requirement can be met through nuclear power, Kumar said.
"If India has to consistently attain nine per cent GDP growth, we need to have nine per cent additional power per annum. Nuclear power will play a major role in meeting this demand," he said.
Expressing concern at the fast depletion of non-renewable sources of energy, he said, "Our coal reserves will last for another 80 years. We will need additional sources of power. In 60 years, we have added only 3,200 MW of nuclear power. This deal will help us add 20,000 MW in the next decade."
Refuting the Left's charges that the deal was against national interests, Kumar said, "Our perception is that the deal advances national interest in every way. It will enhance national security, which is directly linked with energy security."
He hoped that the government, through negotiations, will be able to convince the Left parties about the value of the deal.
According to Kumar, matters of 'such critical importance' must be left to the government of the day "to take the final call" on them.
"The government is in the best position to make the right judgement. So the government should be allowed to take the decision," he said.
"Our stated position is that we will operationalise the deal only after the US Congress ratifies it. So I don't know why the Left is protesting," he said.
Asserting that the UPA government will last its full term, he said, "We should not look at critical issues of national interest from the ani-American view of the past. The world has moved on."
Kumar also said the ambitious 100 billion dollar Delhi- Mumbai rail freight corridor will benefit the hinterlands of six states -- Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
"Spread over 1,483 km, industrial and investment regions are being created on the both sides of the corridor, spreading up to 150 km on each side. The aim is to go in for massive upscaling of existing infrastructure," Kumar said.
In Maharashtra, the corridor will pass through Igatpuri, Nashik, Sinnar, Alewdi and Dighi.
"Our belief is this will help the country is attracting massive domestic and foreign direct investment. Major Japanese participation is expected in the project, along with other countries. It will be a public-private partnership project," he added.
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