PM's science panel calls for stress on nuclear power generation

The Prime Minister's scientific advisory council has asked the Planning Commission to emphasise on nuclear power generation, including exploration and mining of uranium, in the approach paper for the 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-12).

It has also stated that rapid expansion of the nuclear power programme would greatly benefit with the private sector joining hands with the Nuclear Power Corporation.

In a letter to Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Planning Commission deputy chairman, council head CNR Rao said: "Not only should the expansion of the pressurised heavy water reactors be mentioned in the approach paper, emphasis has also to be given to enlarging facilities for spent fuel-reprocessing, accelerated build-up of the breeder reactors and progress towards thorium-U23 fuelled reactors."

The scientific panel has also drawn the Planning Commission's attention to areas such as research and development in education, energy sources, agriculture and health. The plan panel's attention has also been drawn towards technologies for clean drinking water, the rural sector and public-private partnership.

The council added that there are stark disparities with regard to educational and research institutions.

"Over 60 per cent of these are located in just 6 to 8 states. The planning process needs to address these institutional disparities," the letter to Ahluwalia mentions.

It has also been pointed out that underground coal gasification, integrated gasification combined cycle and renewable energy sources have only been mentioned in passing in the approach paper. The council has also asked for an impetus to synthetic fuels such as gas to liquid and coal to liquid as the country is diesel-centric.

The council has also said that from the present level of less than 0.4 per cent of agricultural gross domestic product, investment in agricultural research should go up to 1 per cent or more during the 11th plan.