Mumbai: India`s strategic programme will be
strengthened further to ensure minimum credible deterrence,
Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission Srikumar Banerjee
said on Friday.
"Our strategic programme will be further strengthened to
ensure minimum credible deterrence -- our triad of the
delivery system will be fully functional," he said addressing
the Department of Atomic Energy staff on the 101st birth
anniversary of nuclear scientist Homi Bhabha.
"Electromagnetic and high power microwave devices will be
deployed in our missile defence system," Banerjee said while
enumerating the achievements of the department.
Banerjee also said different kinds of scanners will be
deployed at all entry and exit points on land, air and sea to
provide security against any unauthorised movement of nuclear
materials.
Electronic Corporation of India (ECIL) of the DAE along
with a private partner are making these scanners with the help
of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and already one such scanner
for containers is being installed in the Jawaharlal Nehru Port
(JNPT) in Nhava Sheva in Maharashtra, Banerjee said.
Following the April incident of radiation exposure in
Mayapuri in Delhi, DAE did not take any chance during the
Commonwealth Games, he said.
During the sporting event, ECIL supplied equipment worth
Rs 230 crore and a large number of personnel from various
security agencies were trained on detection of any radiation
sources and mitigation of any radiation emergency, he said.
In addition, during the Games, a team of scientists was
deputed at the venues for radiation surveillance, Banerjee
said.
On the issue of international collaboration, Banerjee
said there are several projects in which India will be
participating and establishing several facilities in the
country to attract international scientists, including those
of Indian origin.
BARC Director R K Sinha said as part of the Indo-US deal,
transport of imported fuel from research reactor APSARA out of
Trombay has already commenced. The new design of APSARA will
have several advanced features that will include advanced
dispersion type uranium silicide fuel.
BARC has also commissioned a new reprocessing plant in
Tarapur this morning to carry out the reprocessing of power
reactor fuel.
PTI
