New Delhi: A former DRDO scientist, who
had questioned the efficacy of the thermonuclear device during
the Pokhran-II tests, has favoured an inquiry to determine the
success of the 1998 experiments, saying creation of nuclear
power could not be based on myths.
"I think this is standard procedure in science and if
there are claims then an impartial group of scientists is
normally formed to look into the relevant facts," K Santhanam,
who triggered a controversy when he claimed that the tests
have not yielded desired results, said.
Asked whether such a probe will affect the country`s
image as a nuclear power, he said one should not be carried
away by "images or imagery" and that the image must be rooted
in solid facts and cleared by competent group of scientists.
"So the creation of a myth must be avoided," he said.
On whether he would prefer to made public the findings
of such a committee, he said the panel should be allowed to
form its own rules and if there is classified information made
available to them, then the report "must remain" confidential.
"They can submit a classified report to the government
and an unclassified version for the press," Santhanam said.
His comments came a day after three top nuclear
scientists -- M R Srinivasan, P K Iyengar and A N Prasad --
demanded a probe into the claims made by Santhanam, DRDO`s
Project Director for Pokhran-II tests.
Santhanam had last month described the May 11, 1998
test as a `fizzle` (failure to achieve expected yield) and
said India needed to conduct more tests besides not signing
CTBT.
His contention, however, did not receive much
attention from the government with Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh saying "a wrong impression has been given by some
scientists which is needless".
Kalam, who as Director General of the DRDO was
involved in the nuclear tests in 1998, said the tests were
successful and had generated the desired yield.
India conducted five nuclear tests on May 11 and 13,
1998 at the Pokhran range in Rajasthan which included a 45
kiloton (kt) thermonuclear device, called as hydrogen bomb in
common parlance.
The other tests on May 11 included a 15 kt fission
device and a 0.2 kt sub-kiloton device. The two simultaneous
nuclear tests on May 13 were also in the sub-kiloton range --
0.5 and 0.3 kt.
Kalam, also Scientific Adviser to the Defence
Minister, then Atomic Energy Commission Chairman R Chidambaram
and then Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Anil
Kakodkar were key players in the Pokhran-II tests.
Bureau Report
