Breakfast interaction with Professor Bikash Sinha “Prospect of Nuclear Power: Post Fukushima” Japan - 16th September '11

At a breakfast interactive session on Friday September 16, Professor Bikash Sinha addressed the members of AMCHAM Eastern Indian on the advantages of clean energy. He spoke on the “Prospect of Nuclear Power: Post Fukushima” Japan. Dr. Sinha explained to the members that the safety record of Indian nuclear power plants in India is quite robust. His talk was followed by a lively Q&A session.

Dr. Sinha holds the current charge as Director, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, since November 1992. Amongst the many awards that Dr. Sinha has received he is the recipient of the S.N. Bose Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress Association. Dr. Sinha has been conferred the Padma Shri Award by the Government of India in 2001 for his significant contribution in Science & Technology.

Scientist bats for nuclear power
PRASUN CHAUDHURI

Even though the radiation hazard in the aftermath of Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster was minimal, the accident helped anti-nuclear energy campaigners spread fear among people. That’s the opinion of Bikash Sinha, Homi Bhabha professor in the central government’s department of atomic energy.

“The radiation hazard rate at Fukushima city (65km from the nuclear plant) was merely 0.38 units, Tokyo 0.13 units, Calcutta 0.104 units and Manavalakurichi (Kerala) 0.449,” said Sinha while interacting with members of American Chamber of Commerce (Amchams) at Bengal Club on Friday.“

And the hazardous dose for a nuclear industry employee is 20 units,” he explained through a presentation.

According to him, at some places — such as Manavalakurichi, rich in natural thorium — typical background radiation is far higher than what was produced in the Fukushima disaster. According to him, the anti-nuclear lobby is distorting facts to misinform people. “It’s a pity the same lobby, concerned over greenhouse gas emission, is not that vociferous against thermal power plants that generate loads of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.” The activists also gloss over the fact that thousands of people die in coal-mining disasters across the world, he said.

“These campaigners are latching on to the fact that Germany capped its nuclear programme immediately after the disaster. But that’s completely a political issue, courtesy the Greenpeace movement. That logic doesn’t hold good for India,” said Sinha.

The safety record of Indian nuclear power plants is quite robust. “Kalpakkam plant in Tamil Nadu survived the 2004 tsunami and Gujarat’s Kakrapar plant too was unharmed by the devastating Bhuj earthquake in 2001,” he said.

If India has to continue the pace of its economic growth, there’s no alternative to nuclear energy. “It’s not only clean but extremely cheap. Which is why the country has set a modest target of producing at least 20,000MW electricity from nuclear power,” he also said.

Solar power is not a viable source of energy since photovoltaic cells used in it are expensive. Wind energy is also not feasible in most wind-starved places. “Polluting coal-based thermal plants are far more damaging than nuclear plants. It’s a tragedy that majority of power in West Bengal is still generated in such plants,” said Sinha.

“The state is ignoring nuclear power at its peril,” he added.