Uttaranchal to explore nuclear option

In its quest for becoming "energy state", the Uttaranchal government is now exploring nuclear option.

Besides making efforts to tap the potential of hydro and gas, the government has now established contact with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), a public sector undertaking spearheading India's nuclear power programme, to explore whether a nuclear power plant can be established in the state.

In this regard, Power Secretary N Ravishanker is touch with NPCIL Chairman-Cum-Managing Director (CMD) S K Jain. "I have requested them to see whether a nuclear power plant like Narora and others can also be established in Uttaranchal," Ravishanker said.

After having detail talks, Jain has now sought a detail report from the government regarding the seismic and geographical conditions in the state. "We are of the view that for establishing nuclear power plant, you need an isolated area. We are full of such areas. So we are hopeful in this direction," Ravishanker said.

When asked as to what kind of nuclear energy could be used, Ravishanker only said the issue very premature to comment upon. "We first want to complete basic formalities regarding nuclear plant. Other issues would come later," he said.

The government is presently keen to develop hydro power projects for which it has already identified 20000 MW of power potential in the state.

The state government has adopted a target of achieving generating capacity of 500 MW every year and 3000 MW in five years.

At present projects of 5307 MW capacity are under construction and projects of 6735 MW capacity have been allocated for implementations to big companies like NTPC, NHPC and THDC.

In addition to hydro, the government has roped in the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) to jointly examine various project opportunities for natural gas in the state and undertake extension of the National Gas Grid to Uttaranchal.

For this purpose, the State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttaranchal Limited (SIDCUL), a government enterprise which has developed several modern industrial estates, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GAIL recently.