There was a time when people lived without electricity. But today almost everything is operated by electricity. The industrial needs also have increased manifolds with the development. The government has to constantly cater to the needs of an ever-increasing population with limited resources, and ends up on the losing side most of the time.
The question that haunts us is how do we meet the energy requirements of the country? There are a number of conventional methods; nevertheless none are fairly efficient to generate gratifying results.
Energy from the wind, water and sun are limitless but they are not being tapped to the full extent and neither can they suffice. On the other hand, coal and petroleum are efficient but are non-renewable resources and if used to its full extent may last only for the next 40 to 50 years. Subsequently the scientists hit upon the idea of using uranium to meet the energy needs. Once again there was disappointment for the reason that India does not have enough of uranium resources for this purpose.
So we are left with no other choice other than borrowing uranium from other countries to produce electricity. People do argue that why not utilise the large reserves of thorium that we have?
Thorium can be used but it cannot be used directly. It has to go through a three-stage process of conversion. The India-U.S nuclear deal, like any other deal has both the positive and negative sides. It can be looked upon both optimistically or pessimistically.
The 123 bilateral agreement has many pros and cons. But we should take a decision keeping the requirements and benefits in mind. This deal would allow us to proceed unhindered with our own long-term domestic power program. At the same time, the deal allows us access to the nuclear technology from both U.S and others to meet our short-term power needs. Most importantly it would end the nuclear isolation imposed on India and will give us energy security.
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