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Domestic factors pose more serious challenges than external factors to India’s nuclear energy industry development. While there have been no security lapses reported about the safety of nuclear power facilities that are protected against non-state actors, domestic factors like issues in radiation management and public opinion regarding uranium mining and atomic power facilities could affect the growth of India’s nuclear energy industry.

The recent accident, in which some 40 employees in the Kaiga nuclear power facility were exposed to radiation due the consuming contaminated drinking water in the premises, indicates that the country needs to take serious steps to prevent any such mishap. Whether the incident resulted from technical errors or security lapses or the act of a “disgruntled individual” it is important for the government to ensure security in its facilities and its work force to ensure the safe development of India’s nuclear power industry. This is especially important since nuclear power will play a major role in the energy mix of the country over the longer term.

With 17 operational reactors in India, the country produces about 15 billion kilowatt-hour of electricity from its nuclear power facilities, which constitutes only 2.5 per cent of the total electricity output. Many more reactors are planned, and India has signed nuclear cooperation agreements with other proficient countries like the United States and France.

There is little doubt of the potential of nuclear power to be an alternative for conventional thermal fuels for electricity generation. The country hopes to install some 20,000 MW of nuclear capacity by 2020 and a total of 63,000 MW by 2032. If fully developed, nuclear power could be of significance for India, as the country will have an enormous demand for electricity in the coming years. However, public opinion has been divided on the issue of overall social costs and benefits of nuclear energy. There is a lack of adequate knowledge in the general population about the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy. It is believed that the nuclear establishment and the various governments in power have kept the public in the dark regarding issues concerning the nuclear sector. Some of these issues relate to nuclear waste management, and have been used by sections of the political community for their anti-nuclear agenda. Though nuclear reactor fuel is cost competitive, the capital costs, expenses of decommissioning and waste management are considered additional burdens for nuclear power generation. Often these factors are utilized by antinuclear lobbies in the country to suggest that nuclear power is not economically feasible. Moulding favourable public opinion in India appears to be a difficult task, but it is a strategic necessity.

India has an excellent track record with regard to non-proliferation. Safety measures in all the Indian nuclear facilities conform to international standards. However, some of the issues related to domestic nuclear radiation and waste management have engendered negative perceptions of the nuclear industry. The major factor that has shaped anti-nuclear sentiments in the people is the inefficient handling of radiation problems in nuclear power, uranium mining and milling facilities.

The mining facilities of the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) in Jaduguda in Bihar have often invited criticism on the radiation issues associated with mining and milling operations. According to a Down to Earth study the company allegedly dumps waste from the mines in open fields and transports uranium ore in uncovered dumpers. It even supplied mine tailings as construction material to the villagers.  The study also says that in December 2006, a pipe burst spilling radioactive waste; since there was no warning system in place the authorities took about nine hours to respond. There are many people with congenital deformities born near Jaduguda. High incidence of tuberculosis, skin and lung cancer and other diseases are also found.

The inefficiency in managing these radiation issues often turns into protests against the nuclear establishment and its facilities. Some political sections have capitalized these issues to promote their anti-nuclear agenda. Other uranium mining/milling sites in India also face such problems. The Domiasiat project in Meghalaya and the Lambapur- Peddagattu Project in Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh, are other sites where public concerns often inform anti-nuclear sentiments. These factors play a significant role in shaping public perceptions, and they are often used as political weapons against the ruling government, which ultimately affects nuclear industry development in the country. The government needs to address these challenges by strengthening radiation prevention and nuclear waste management measures. Without proactive steps by the Government, the domestic challenges will continue to be serious concerns for the nuclear industry’s development. Since nuclear energy has to play a major role in ensuring the country’s long term energy security, ensuring the stability of the industry is critical for achieving the nation’s economic goals.