India Nuclear News And Discussion

Jarita · Post by **Jarita** » 21 Feb 2011 21:57

More on the topic of partnership with Dow Chemicals aka Union Carbide

http://www.asia-pacific-action.org/taxonomy/term/13

India: Uranium mining destroying lives and communities

India: Community forces Dow Chemicals to abandon research and development centre

Seems DOw is in partnerwhip with Uranium corp of India to extract uranium.

Below is verbatim from the source

Dow Chemicals is given the free hand and go ahead to mine set up labs transport uranium with UCIL (Uranium Corporation of India Limited-u see the name similarity and stock ticket similarity). There is a huge opposition in Meghalaya and other area for this mining by UCIL (GOVT INDIA) and dow chemicals but the center refused to stop mining. In pune they want to set up a test lab facility which was scrapped by the activists recently.

The kicker is as part of the Nuclear 123 Deal the US administration forced the Govt of India to pass a clause to exempt Dow Chemicals from any liability of its acquired UCIL and this is part of the condition for the supply of nuclear material.

GuruPrabhu · Post by **GuruPrabhu** » 22 Feb 2011 02:31

Jarita wrote: http://www.asia-pacific-action.org/taxonomy/term/13

Very interesting website, Jarita-ji. On the right hand side, there is a column full of other sites that are freeing this or that. I don't see any "Free Tibet" links -- wonder why?

Jarita · Post by **Jarita** » 22 Feb 2011 06:32

^^^ Don't care much about those fools.
The only info I was looking for was the Dow Chemicals connection with Uranium mining in India. It is conspicuously absent from media while people on the ground are talking about it. Another factoid from the ground

AP CM and dow chemicals had close links and dow got in fast track approvals for Pulivendula site.

GuruPrabhu · Post by **GuruPrabhu** » 22 Feb 2011 06:38

Jarita wrote:^^^ Don't care much about those fools.

ok, they are fools.

The only info I was looking for was the Dow Chemicals connection with Uranium mining in India. It is conspicuously absent from media while people on the ground are talking about it.

So the media doesn't know, but the fools have figured it out.

Brilliant!

Jarita · Post by **Jarita** » 22 Feb 2011 06:40

^^^^ Or maybe the media knows just like the 2G kissa.
It would be useful if other people also spoke to people on the ground in Pulivendula
The website picks on any grievance in India that will help build their case and managed to pick on this too. Just because a fact is mentioned on it does not mean we completely discredit it.

Again, talk to people on the ground. Why did YSR give fast track approval to Dow folks?
Does anyone know people in Uranium Corporation India? They can throw light on this too.

GuruPrabhu · Post by **GuruPrabhu** » 22 Feb 2011 07:09

Jarita wrote: Does anyone know people in Uranium Corporation India? They can throw light on this too.

No light but other stuff got thrown at the mention of this.

Maybe the fools are not fools but psyop artists, hain ji?

somnath · Post by **somnath** » 22 Feb 2011 07:27

^^^Jarita-ji,

Uranium mining is not a state subject..It is a central subject..No amount of chumminess with any CM is going to help Dow there...

And as far as known, FDI is not allowed in uranium mining...

Maybe NPCIL is getting some technical help from Dow on certain aspects of mining...But to conclude something sinister where the facts dont stack up is a bit far, no?

Jarita · Post by **Jarita** » 22 Feb 2011 08:18

^^^ Look, I am just trying to piece the puzzle together.
I have the write-up I had posted earlier and a detailed conversation with someone in bureaucracy in Cuddapah to go by,
Maybe Dow is just partnering on the technical aspects but how much are they getting for it is something one is very interested in knowing. Also, what technical aspects? After Bhopal, one has to be cautious.
Do I trust the govt to do what is good for us - NO. Remember BT. Brinjal, now endosulfen etc. Our interests are subservient to large MNCs.
Hence, I would request someone else on foot in AP and maybe Meghalaya to also explore what is happening. I'll try and get to more folks in AP.
This may be all a conspiracy theory with a lot of activists, bureacrats etc involved in manufacturing it.

GuruPrabhu · Post by **GuruPrabhu** » 22 Feb 2011 08:35

I wish I had the know how to start a bogus website and claim that Mayawati is in secret talks with Durex to make extra small condoms for SDRE. Then I will point out that the media either had no clue or worse were hand-in-glove (or, benis-in-raincoat) with this secret deal. Surely, some member here will start investigating the news in depth.

negi · Post by **negi** » 23 Feb 2011 01:42

BARC Vizag unit in 5 years

The new unit of the Baba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Visakha district, which is three times bigger than the one at Trombay ( Mumbai), will become operational in five years.

Sanatanan · Post by **Sanatanan** » 25 Feb 2011 07:21

Jaitapur hot destination for land deal

Developers’ rush triggers 20-fold land price surge.

. . .

Amar Desai, entrepreneur in the agriculture and horticulture sectors, said, “There were hardly any deals just five years ago. The per-acre land was priced below Rs 1 lakh or even at Rs 50,000 in some deals. But the ongoing debate over Jaitapur has attracted global attention and people are coming forward in big numbers to purchase land, preferrably along the coast.”

I trust these folks would take into account AERB's requirement that in the "Sterilized Zone" over a radius of 5 KM around the npp, accelerated development cannot take place; unless of course, AERB has agreed to relax this criterion just for the imported npps.

Sanatanan · Post by **Sanatanan** » 25 Feb 2011 13:31

What’s the real cost of nuclear plant in Maharashtra?

[quote]. . . it is revealed that the capital cost of the 9,900MW project has still not been decided.
. . .

“. . . As a principle, the capital cost of all imported NPP units in India should be such that the unit energy cost from the above plants is comparable with the prevailing tariff of power plants of Indian origin constructed at the same period. Same principle is being followed for the EPR units at Jaitapur site,” he added. {To justify imports, may be the cost of India-made npps could be raised to match the imported ones! -- just joking }
. . .
[/quote]

Global, Public Tenders for imported npps might be the best way to go, IMO.

somnath · Post by **somnath** » 25 Feb 2011 13:50

Sanatanan wrote:Global, Public Tenders for imported npps might be the best way to go, IMO.

Santanan-ji, as a general rule, that is unexceptionable. But maybe the attempt here is to access a few different types of NPP tech on offer globally? After all, if all NPPs were the "same", then there is no point going for imported tech at all, given that the operator in all cases is going to NPCIL, and hence funding has to be arranged by NPCIL...

GuruPrabhu · Post by **GuruPrabhu** » 25 Feb 2011 18:23

Sanatanan-ji,

Cost saving is important. But there are also issues of capacity. Perhaps you should just check with NPCIL whether it can handle the proposed growth rate for nuke power in India.

It is like saying, "why bring take home food for a dinner party when my wife is perfectly capable of cooking a feast for 10 people?"

Yup, you would have a good cost-saving plan, but it would help to check with the wife first

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 05 Mar 2011 09:58

Warkaris take on new mission: Oust nuclear power

Okay. This project went into deep freeze like the mythical international airport at Pune.

Sanatanan · Post by **Sanatanan** » 05 Mar 2011 15:04

A few days back I had posted a comment in this thread indicating that, in my opinion, npp for Jaitapur [and indeed, for all the npps that GOI is bent upon importing], selection of vendor(s) should be based on Global Public Tender(s). In such a process, since there are more than one competent npp vendors, the bid evaluation and "price discovery" would be more transparent. Acceptance criteria for a Public Tender would be on the basis of lowest technically and commercially acceptable tender. This would imply that just the price-wise lowest quotation need not necessarily be finally accepted (although usually that may be the case). Should the need arise, the Approving authority can take into account cogent and well reasoned arguments set forth in the recommendations made by the tender evaluating agency, against the price-wise lowest quotation and in favour of accepting a vendor at a higher price, and decide accordingly. The point is that the reasons for selecting a higher-priced bid, would be recorded and be available in the public domain. A single party bid is invited only when more than one vendor is not available for the item to be procured.

(Sentence added later: Anyway, who knows, when the bid-submission time comes, French may indeed offer a lower price compared to other competitors! Why pre-judge it?)

Recently, I came across this Parliamentary question [Rajya Sabha question No. 325 (d)], answered by the Minister for Atomic Energy on Dec 2, 2010:

Question:
[quote]Will the Minister of Atomic Energy be pleased to state :-
. . .

(d) the steps that are being taken to make the procurement process more fair and transparent in the nuclear energy sector? [/quote]
Answer:
[quote]
. . .

(d) The procurements of nuclear energy sector are mainly handled by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). For the procurements by the department, instructions have been issued to Directorate of Purchase and Stores to review all related issues to reduce number of single/limited tenders. Instructions have also been issued to expedite e-procurement, wherever feasible, to ensure transparency, competitiveness and efficiency in procurements.
[/quote]

I hope DAE would take the above instructions into account in the case of procurement of the Jaitapur npp also since it would be a contract of very large value.

somnath · Post by **somnath** » 05 Mar 2011 16:00

^^^Sanatanan-ji, dont think the appointment of OEMs to supply the reactor is part of the question...That decision seems to be a politico-strategic one taken by the govt, of course with DAE inputs...

Sanatanan · Post by **Sanatanan** » 05 Mar 2011 20:35

^^^ Import of npps to be located at Jaitapur has so far been sought to be justified as being necessary to meet a projected (civilian) electricity need. Dr Kakodkar had included the nine thousand or so MWe proposed to be obtained from the Jaitapur npps as a part of the 40,000 MWe which he merely described as being "additionality" to help bridge a "gap" between a projected electrical energy need and an estimated actual generation capacity at a yet far away future time (year 2050 ?). So far I have not come across any proposal that these npps would be placed in the military list; hence I presume that, if and when imported npps are built at Jaitapur, they will be in the civilian list only. So, I am not sure how or why the proposed imported plants at Jaitapur are getting contaminated with "strategic" issues. Also, I feel that "political" decisions should not be at the expense of economic considerations. In any case, in my view, credible reasons for selecting French and only the French supplied npps at Jaitapur may need to be placed by GOI in the public domain.

Again, just my thoughts.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 05 Mar 2011 22:05

Sanatanan wrote:A few days back I had posted a comment in this thread indicating that, in my opinion, npp for Jaitapur [and indeed, for all the npps that GOI is bent upon importing], selection of vendor(s) should be based on Global Public Tender(s). In such a process, since there are more than one competent npp vendors, the bid evaluation and "price discovery" would be more transparent. Acceptance criteria for a Public Tender would be on the basis of lowest technically and commercially acceptable tender. This would imply that just the price-wise lowest quotation need not necessarily be finally accepted (although usually that may be the case). Should the need arise, the Approving authority can take into account cogent and well reasoned arguments set forth in the recommendations made by the tender evaluating agency, against the price-wise lowest quotation and in favour of accepting a vendor at a higher price, and decide accordingly. The point is that the reasons for selecting a higher-priced bid, would be recorded and be available in the public domain. A single party bid is invited only when more than one vendor is not available for the item to be procured.

(Sentence added later: Anyway, who knows, when the bid-submission time comes, French may indeed offer a lower price compared to other competitors! Why pre-judge it?)

Recently, I came across this Parliamentary question [Rajya Sabha question No. 325 (d)], answered by the Minister for Atomic Energy on Dec 2, 2010:

Question:
[quote]Will the Minister of Atomic Energy be pleased to state :-
. . .

(d) the steps that are being taken to make the procurement process more fair and transparent in the nuclear energy sector?

Answer:

. . .

(d) The procurements of nuclear energy sector are mainly handled by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). For the procurements by the department, instructions have been issued to Directorate of Purchase and Stores to review all related issues to reduce number of single/limited tenders. Instructions have also been issued to expedite e-procurement, wherever feasible, to ensure transparency, competitiveness and efficiency in procurements.

[/size]

I hope DAE would take the above instructions into account in the case of procurement of the Jaitapur npp also since it would be a contract of very large value.[/quote]

I don't know why you suggest such an open and transparent process where Scams would be difficult to achieve by CON party. Apologists would tell you any story that you may want to hear in support of CON party moves . NPPs are too juicy, perhaps bigger than 2Gs to be left to public scrutiny till all juice has flowed to Lotus or tulip or SGT or Q etc.

somnath · Post by **somnath** » 06 Mar 2011 10:42

Santananji,

I fundamentally agree with your axiom...If there is a site segnated for imported reactors, and Jaitapur is, the process of selecting the supplier should be transparent...The limited point is that a group of suppliers seem to have been selected - primarily based on different technologies being brought in and the extent of "strategic" relations at stake....

BTW, I didnt mean "politico-strategic" from a nuke weapons perspective, more from a foreign relations perspective...

But you are right, as and whent he supplier is formally appointed, the grounds for selection should be made public..

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 06 Mar 2011 18:26

vera_k wrote:Warkaris take on new mission: Oust nuclear power

Okay. This project went into deep freeze like the mythical international airport at Pune.

Indeed.
Who needs electricity anyway?

somnath · Post by **somnath** » 06 Mar 2011 19:20

Marten wrote: Why is Jaitapur such a critical location? Aren't two alternative locations supposed to be identified as well? Why is there no noise on that front then?

There is already..Haripur, in WB which is another location has alreasy seen the firt murmers of protest, with Mamta Banerjee joining in as well...All for a fatter gravy train!

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 06 Mar 2011 21:32

Marten wrote:OT, but the Agri-Airport land acquisition/earmark stage was already done at Ranjangaon. Perhaps the comparison should be with the Dow Chemical plant which had to be abandoned (rightly so imvho). Why is Jaitapur such a critical location? Aren't two alternative locations supposed to be identified as well? Why is there no noise on that front then?

You mean Rajgurunagar. Doesn't look like anything has moved on that front. If I had to put my money on it, the airport will get moved to somewhere near Lavasa, because the political modus operandi over the previous two decades has been to a) buy land, b) announce airport project, c) develop and sell land and d) buy land at another location to rinse and repeat.

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 07 Mar 2011 01:14

I mean many of these projects are just your garden variety land scam dressed up in new clothes.

Gerard wrote:Indeed.
Who needs electricity anyway?

The rural areas won't get that electricity anyway. On that principle, somewhere near South Mumbai would be a better project site since the locals will be more motivated to get electricity

astal · Post by **astal** » 07 Mar 2011 01:53

Vera_k,

Boss, why will the rural areas not get electricity. Currently, India does not have enough electricity to continuously supply urban and rural areas. Electricity supply is prioritized and allocated to the more productive urban sector as would be expected. Once enough is generated, it will definitely be provided to the rural areas.

Our ancestral homes are close to Jaitapur. Quite a few jobs will be created due to the project. Most locals favor the project. Employment seeking youth are migrating to Pune and Mumbai. Such projects will hold some of them back. Other local infrastructure will improve due to the project.

As for corruption, I fully agree. Politicians and bureaucrats are not only venal but also short sighted. When given a choice of big piece of a small pie today, or a small piece of a much bigger pie in the future, their lack of confidence forces them to choose with a short time frame.

I feel we need to convince corrupt officials that it is in their own interests to eschew their venality with a combination of severe punishments and strong motivators for progress. Modi is showing results in Gujarat and is getting reelected. If this becomes a trend, we well see other politicians following positive examples.

By the way. I read the article. It does not site a single reason to oppose the project. It looks like opposition for the sake of publicity, corruption or ignorance.

(edited for clarity)

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 07 Mar 2011 02:33

I am just stating fact. Electricity is generated in rural areas, and transported to urban areas. The rural areas themselves keep suffering load shedding (particularly true in Maharashtra). In that case the rural residents won't be too motivated in favour of some project that solves a problem for city folk.

As an explanation to the opposition to the project, this explanation fits for Maharashtra. There are similar protests against the plant in Gujarat as well, and the local MLA is quoted saying something similar -

rural Gujarat is facing a common threat of elimination of their community resources by those sitting in Delhi and Gandhinagar

milindc · Post by **milindc** » 07 Mar 2011 14:26

One of the reasons Rural areas don't get electricity is due to free/subsidized electricity provided for agriculture

GuruPrabhu · Post by **GuruPrabhu** » 07 Mar 2011 18:35

Sanatanan wrote: So, I am not sure how or why the proposed imported plants at Jaitapur are getting contaminated with "strategic" issues.

Indeed, it is silly to consider energy as a strategic resource.

SureshP · Post by **SureshP** » 08 Mar 2011 02:29

NPC reaps first N-deal gains, output up 35%

Sanjay Jog / Mumbai March 8, 2011, 0:05 IST
India’s move to sign civil nuclear deals with various countries and gaining access to the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) have started yielding results.

State-run Nuclear Power Corporation’s (NPC’s) generation has increased to 24,100 million units (MUs) this year so far from 18,831 MUs in financial year 2009-10. It is expected to touch 25,500 MUs by the end of the financial year, a rise of almost 35 per cent.This is largely due to higher availability of uranium from France, Russia and Kazakhstan under inter-government agreements.

Areva of France has supplied NPC 300 tonnes uranium for Rajasthan Unit-2, which is operating above 100 per cent capacity. India has entered into long-term uranium supply agreements with Russia and Kazakhstan. NPC’s installed capacity from 19 reactors is 4,680 Mw.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/ ... 35/427698/

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 09 Mar 2011 07:17

Cross posting from the Mining Thread
Uranium found in 2 AP villages

March 8: In a major thrust to the nuclear power generation programme in the country, the city-based Atomic Minerals Directorate has discovered uranium reserves in Peddur and Kottur villages of Karimnagar district.

Uranium is present in these villages in the form of its compound, tri-uranium octoxide. Researchers of the AMD centres in Hyderabad and Shillong jointly carried out geological investigations coupled with reconnaissance radiometric survey over parts of Karimnagar Granulite Terrain (KGT), spread over an area of 4,000 sq km.

India’s ambitious nuclear energy programme aims at generating 20 giga watt of nuclear power by 2020 and the discovery of new uranium resources will further boost the nuclear energy sector.

The AMD team comprising Mr Anjan Som, Mr M. Sai Baba, and others found several radioactive anomalies indicating the presence of uranium and thorium within granite formed during Archaean to early-Proterozoic era (3.8 to 2.5 billion years ago) at Peddur and Kottur villages. Analysis of the sediment has shown high values of uranium. Thorium, however, was present in negligible quantities.

In Peddur village, the AMD team noticed the presence of as high as 1.96 per cent tri-uranium octoxide or U3O8. In the Kottur area, U3O8 was present up to 0.059 per cent. In both the places thorium was found in minute quantities. The discovery of uranium, according to the researchers, has opened up the possibility of “finding uranium mineralisation in Archaean meta-sediments and thus provides a thrust for uranium exploration in similar geological environs in India.”

Incidentally, earlier radiometric surveys in the area did not yield any results. A second survey, however, revealed the presence of uranium deposits.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 09 Mar 2011 10:11

VinodTK wrote:Cross posting from the Mining Thread
Uranium found in 2 AP villages
March 8: In a major thrust to the nuclear power generation programme in the country, the city-based Atomic Minerals Directorate has discovered uranium reserves in Peddur and Kottur villages of Karimnagar district.

Uranium is present in these villages in the form of its compound, tri-uranium octoxide. Researchers of the AMD centres in Hyderabad and Shillong jointly carried out geological investigations coupled with reconnaissance radiometric survey over parts of Karimnagar Granulite Terrain (KGT), spread over an area of 4,000 sq km.

India’s ambitious nuclear energy programme aims at generating 20 giga watt of nuclear power by 2020 and the discovery of new uranium resources will further boost the nuclear energy sector.

The AMD team comprising Mr Anjan Som, Mr M. Sai Baba, and others found several radioactive anomalies indicating the presence of uranium and thorium within granite formed during Archaean to early-Proterozoic era (3.8 to 2.5 billion years ago) at Peddur and Kottur villages. Analysis of the sediment has shown high values of uranium. Thorium, however, was present in negligible quantities.

In Peddur village, the AMD team noticed the presence of as high as 1.96 per cent tri-uranium octoxide or U3O8. In the Kottur area, U3O8 was present up to 0.059 per cent. In both the places thorium was found in minute quantities. The discovery of uranium, according to the researchers, has opened up the possibility of “finding uranium mineralisation in Archaean meta-sediments and thus provides a thrust for uranium exploration in similar geological environs in India.”

Incidentally, earlier radiometric surveys in the area did not yield any results. A second survey, however, revealed the presence of uranium deposits.

Wonder how soon the protests by motivated activists and rona dhona about the environment by foreign funded and directed anti India NGOs will start.

Expect medha and susannah roy to land up soon and educate the nation on the dangers of progress.

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 09 Mar 2011 11:00

chetak wrote:
Wonder how soon the protests by motivated activists and rona dhona about the environment by foreign funded and directed anti India NGOs will start.

Expect medha and susannah roy to land up soon and educate the nation on the dangers of progress.

There is no need, GoI itself has made sure that Uranium mining inside India and other developments are on slow burner. How else can the New clear deal be justified.

GuruPrabhu · Post by **GuruPrabhu** » 10 Mar 2011 10:23

It is said that Lord Mahesh's mind is a double-edged sword.

I never understood that until reading Sanku-ji's posts. Just like the sword cuts both ways, Sanku-ji finds flaw with current GOI, regardless of the direction of the argument.

arnab · Post by **arnab** » 10 Mar 2011 10:35

GuruPrabhu wrote:It is said that Lord Mahesh's mind is a double-edged sword.

I never understood that until reading Sanku-ji's posts. Just like the sword cuts both ways, Sanku-ji finds flaw with current GOI, regardless of the direction of the argument.

Sir I think Sanku ji has only touched the tip of the conspiracy. I submit that Murli Manohar Joshi's attempt to introduce astrology as a science course in Indian universities so demoralised prospective science students, that we have not yet been able to master thorium technology becasue of lack of trained scientists. Hence increasing our dependence on satan for uranium, EUMA, nuke liability and CISMOA

So it is a bipartisan conspiracy to keep India tied to satan.

somnath · Post by **somnath** » 10 Mar 2011 11:03

^^^Somehow this news article didnt get read I think..

SureshP wrote:http://www.business-standard.com/india/ ... 35/427698/

It says..

Besides, domestic uranium supply from the six mines in Jharkhand has risen 1.5 times in a year

This is also a GOI conspiracy of some sorts to favour someone in the US, just that we have not been able to discern the conspiracy angle yet

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 11 Mar 2011 22:43

Fukushima Nuclear plant and recent 8.9 earthquake in Japan.
Emergency Declared at Japanese Nuclear Plant

Sushupti · Post by **Sushupti** » 11 Mar 2011 22:49

A country has to mark its position, whether or not it wins.
The Pak-China nuclear deal is against India's interest. If India won't oppose it, why should others? Indeed, the outrage at India's silence was most felt by the Asian power mentioned earlier. It was entirely prepared to come to India's assistance in the IAEA. It wields extraordinary moral traction against nuclear weapons/ proliferation.
But India's silence left it shocked and stunned.
It now transpires that the foreign ministry alerted the prime minister's office about the IAEA meeting. The foreign ministry was fully prepared to oppose the deal in the IAEA. But it needed the PMO go-ahead.
In PMO internal discussions, a view crystallized to support the foreign-ministry position. Insiders say even an order was issued to oppose the China-Pak deal in the IAEA.
And then, inexplicably, the order never reached the Indian side at the IAEA, despite foreign-ministry reminders. India's calamitous silence on a matter central to its national security was noted all over the world.
The angry view within a section of administration is that the Manmohan Singh government decided not to take a stand in the IAEA to remain on the right side of the US. Given the slavish pro-Americanism of the prime minister, who shoved the Indo-US nuclear deal down the throat of an unwilling county, that should come as no surprise.
It appears we have lost the capacity to negotiate the world without American guidance.

http://www.newsinsight.net/archivedebat ... recno=2115

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 12 Mar 2011 02:47

>>It appears we have lost the capacity to negotiate the world without American guidance.

According to the occasionally useful newsinsight, then, the stage appears set for a US-Iranian rapprochement with India as the key broker.

An unfortunate example of someone who may have a point to make but is not listened to because she screams like a tart denied payment.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 12 Mar 2011 04:19

^^ Good spot on India's foreign policy is now aligned with the US. However, the US has other allies that have deep relations with IRan and don't enforce UN sanctions that US is currently using as a go between. Most meetings/negotiations are taking place in that country.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 12 Mar 2011 19:50

India seeks full membership of nuclear control regimes.

Indian foreign secretary, Nirupama Rao, will lead her country's bid for full membership in the four international nuclear export control regimes - the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Group.

With the NSG increasingly asserting itself in all nuclear related matters, government officials feel it was important for India, as a major player in the nuclear field to be part of the organisation. Observers feel that obtaining NSG membership may prove to be the most difficult for India given its close association with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, asn obligation that India refuses to be part of.

India adheres to NSG and MTCR guidelines but does not have a direct say in deciding on changes in norms as it is not a full member.

As part of its efforts India has secured summit-level support from the United States, Russia and France. The support of these countries is expected to provide the initial momentum for its bid for full membership of this international nuclear cartel.

India is also hopeful of support from other member nations that are part of these four nuclear control bodies, as they are appreciative of its impeccable non-proliferation record and mindful of the weightage that India will provide the non-proliferation regime through its association.

Secretary Rao was due to address representatives of the 45-member NSG on 28 March in Vienna, but the interaction has been pushed back to a later date because of earlier commitments.