123 AGREEMENT AND INDIAN POLITICS.
For last few weeks it had been the topic of discussion in India. The coalition government in India was in the blink of collapse as one of the coalition partner in the government, the left parties threatened to withdraw the support on the issue of Indo-U.S. nuclear agreement popularly known as 123 agreement. This agreement is for facilitating civil nuclear cooperation and commerce between India and United States.
If it is all about cooperation then why the coalition government in India is in danger? Why the allies of coalition government like left parties want to withdraw the support? Let us look into the whole issue. My analysis is no expert analysis, it for understanding of common populace. I have my own limitation but I will try to make the topic as lucid as possible.
INDIA'S NUCLEAR STRATEGY:
India has a three stages nuclear power program.
FIRST STAGE: Under this stage it has Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) for production of nuclear power. India has 15 operating Pressurized Heavy Water reactors. These PHWRs use natural Uranium as fuel. These PHWRs are located in various parts of India like Tarapur (Maharastra), Rawatbhatta (Rajasthan), Kalpakkam (TamilNadu), Narora (UttarPradesh), Kakrapar (Gujurat) and Kaiga (Karnataka).
SECOND STAGE: This stage includes "Fast Breeder Reactor". This uses Plutonium and also Uranium, in oxide form. It is pertinent to note here that the spent fuel from the PHWRs is reprocessed into Plutonium. This stage has just begun in India with the construction of the prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu).
THIRD STAGE: In this stage we have "Thorium Reactor" which uses Thorium and Uranium-233 as fuel. Uranium-233 is a man-made fissile material. Thorium is converted into Uranium-233 in the "Fast Breeder Reactor". Thorium is vastly available in India and Thorium-fuelled "Advanced Heavy Water Reactor" is about to begin.
Apart from these India also produces nuclear power through "Light Water Reactors (LWRs)". We have this facility at Tarapur (Maharastra).
BENEFITS TO INDIA IN IMPLEMENTING 123 AGREEMENT.
In the first place India can import LWRs to augment its nuclear power. Presently India generates 4120 MWe of nuclear power and six more reactors are under construction with total power generation capacity of 3160 MWe. India aims for generation of 20000 MWe of nuclear power by 2020. Hence import of LWRs is beneficial and inevitable.
Secondly this agreement will help India to import natural Uranium which shall help in setting up of more number of indigenous PHWRs.
Thirdly it shall help India in exporting PHWRs to the developing countries.
ANTICIPATED PROBLEMS FOR INDIA IF 123 AGREEMENT IS IMPLIMENTED.
It is apprehended that the U.S.'s game is to hit at India's indigenous three stage nuclear program because reprocessing forms the back bone of India's three stage program. 123 agreement falls under the HYDE ACT of U.S. and the Hyde Act denies the technology of reprocessing. It is felt that no upfront consent was given to India for reprocessing. India is allowed to make a "request" for reprocessing. Even if the U.S. consented to the request, it will go back to the congress for review.
Secondly it is further apprehended that Uranium suppliers will form a cartel and shall increase the price of the natural Uranium. Hence the cost of generating Electricity will go up.
Thirdly the implementation of this agreement would indirectly enable American Inspection of India's nuclear facilities
Fourthly because of the U.S.'s Hyde Act the uninterrupted supply of fuel for reactor is doubtful.
Now let us see through this video clip how far some of the honorable members of the Indian parliament have understood this nuclear agreement. Alas, these are the people who run the country and these are the people who are about to drag the country to a mid-term election, another carnival in tax payers' money.
http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/47467/the-nuclear-quotient-123-and-mps-begin-bu...
THINK! FOR THESE POLITICIANS 123 AGREEMENT MEANS "1----2----3---PULL THE GOVERNMENT"!! CRYING SHAME!!!
2 comments:
A very Lucid though candid presentation, But as U state its more than "chewable" for a layman....
Fine indeed..Though I cannot agree with all of your positions,
Say for example,
You state that "Import of LWR is Inevitable" ..But it shall not be so , as it has not had been so elsewhere ..
Besides, There are options unlimited,
India could operationalize more FBRs, (we are one of the 1st country to implement it in staging not just as part of research)
We can go "Solar" or "Windpower" or "Tidal"
Though The investment in terms of Infrastructure is heavy, it will pay itself in terms of maintenance and management...
Most of the Developed World(Germany, Spain, Norway to name a few) have vowed to eliminate Nuclear power from thier nation, and many are heading towards that goal, steadily increasing on Renewable sources like Geo-thermal or Solar...
Besides, all this fuss, our power production by nuclear means is very merage compared to hyro/thermal or even Tidal/windenergy...
There is added burden of Maintenance , Manpower , Training and the greatest Issue of Proper Disposal/storage of Nuclear waste...
the Alpha Irradiated U-233 Lasts for 91403, the nuetron irridated ones like the ones produced in india , has a half life of 160,000 Years, . And I hope the Governments of the World has some sort of a plan in place to get those material checked until that time..and safely secured..
And the issue of US intervention, haven't they done so already??
Besides, Look at the stature of our Brothers...(yeah, I'm referring to Pakistan)
The Bases where American-issued Lockheed-Martin F-16Block C are based is completely taken over US gaurds and the Squardon commanders are openly in rage coz' they need the US operator's permission for each and every sorties , even training ...
The Weapons stores are strictly off limits for any Pakistani servicemen..
Consider how US corporate interestes are protected elsewhere ??
No I donot want to sound Agonistic, but my issue here is greater in Scope than the Indo-US Nuclear deal, So for some of you it may sound something of an out-cast thing to do...
Sorry , i can't help..
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