You have said that we would require 2,50,000 MW of power by 2020 and even if this US Nuclear Deal is signed by us still we will be able to generate just 20,000 MW’s that’s even less than 10 %. But is it not that still 10 % is something .
With the kind of growth rate we are having will it be fair to leave 10% companies close down because they don’t have any power to manufacture their goods. Going through our PM’s statement :-”"We have set a modest target of 20,000 MW of nuclear power generation by the year 2020. This can be “”doubled”" with the opening up of international cooperation,”" the Prime Minister said.
http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=91574
So that makes 40,000 MW’s of power which is 16 % of total power that will be needed.
I am not saying that we should stop our Thorium based research . It would be best if we develop this technology so that in case if US threatens to move out of this deal we have alternate arrangements or we have got our indigenous ways of developing nuclear fuel. But till this happens should we leave our companies suffer because of this.
Moreover Russia , France have clearly said that once we follow the safeguards of IAEA and this deal is thru they are ready to provide the nuclear fuel and their enrichment technologies. So here also our dependency on America reduces .
One more question to you..
Is there any problem in placing our civilian and not military nuclear facilities under IAEA ? Moreover our Fast Breeder Test Reactor & Prototype Fast Breeder Test Reactors are out of this civilian list .
Also there’s no where mentioned in the deal that you have to support the US in each of it’s Foreign Affairs. We can have our independent stands on this as US monetary interests also lie with this deal involving more than 150 billion dollars which you have clearly mentioned.
I think the points you have put forward are really very worthy and before signing this deal our government should take care of all of these concerns . But still in my opinion we should not oppose this deal . We do need power and we need it badly .
Just check this news artcle “”India’s 5 out of 17 nuke power plants shut down for lack of fuel”" …
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/india/2007/india-071022-irna01.htm

I have read dozens of arguments in favor and in opposition to US-India Nuclear Deal. Based on that, my opinion coincides with the Communists and BJP, and you, that India should not sign the deal as it.

I am very glad that Deal is on the life support now and I will be even gladder when it dies!

The US has never done much in altruism after WWII. It has significant agenda in pushing this deal to contain China, by having an option of having a significant leverage over India through is energy, economics, IAEA, and NSG. (US looms larger in all international organizations; it is a 800 lb gorilla). Does India really want to relinquish its sovereignity
to get into long term constraint of having to obey its US master?
Self reliance is important tool for India who founded NAM. Why serve Western (or US) interests for short term gains? India currently has 3-5% nuclear energy portion in energy/power sector. That is unlikely to get to 20% any time in one or two decades. So, it is foolish to think India can become France overnight like France (80% nuclear energy – one of the least oil dependent countries).

I can very well understand the sentiments of your words but democracy demands and thrives on differences in opinion and being stationed in India, allow me to differ with you on your views.The question here to ask is “”can we do better without the agreement, or, can we get a better one?”". I personally believe the ans to the 2nd question is NO.

I am afraid that its not US but India who is in more need of nuclear energy and technology. Look at the way China is surging ahead with deals all over the world.40 new nuclear reactors by 2020. In a lucrative deal announced earlier this month, China has got a stake in a major uranium mine in Kazakhstan.They have also pitched in French and US governments and finally decided to go with US as they offered extraordinary terms on technology transfer and financing to push the French out of the deal.Unlike the Indian communists who think New Delhi should buy only Russian reactors, the Chinese communists knows the value of playing the entire nuclear field and leveraging the best possible terms.

As for holding out for something better, we must examine dispassionately the two main charges against the present deal: that it binds us not to test, and that it ‘caps’ our nuclear arsenal. It is perhaps not sufficiently realised that even under the Non-Proliferation Treaty,from which we are being exempted, a state can opt out and conduct a test if it feels that is vital to its security, provided it is prepared to face the consequences. Nothing in the Indo-US agreement prevents us from doing likewise.

Also I personally dont think that we will be dictated by foreign policies, or say foreign power, completely. Without entering into the rights and wrongs of this view, I would like to state this point: international relationships are shaped by strength, the stronger you are the greater your freedom of action.I think India is more vulnerable to foreign pressures without this agreement than we would be by increasing our strength through an intelligent use of it to put through various development programmes which currently falter.

The point that I am trying to make is we need to be more diplomatic and play the games from our point of view.Nobody gets everything they wish for and the way they want. All international agreements require movement away from one’s first preferences. All too often in our history ,we have suffered by insisting on the ideally desirable and rejecting what is attainable.I am not too sure whether thats exactly what the politicians are doing as they think themselves above the mother land. The real issue is facing the consequences, which is entirely a matter, not of laws and agreements, but of our self-confidence. What is called the international community has long sought to stop our testing by threatening penalties. We faced those when we thought necessary; we can do so again(like when BJP did the nuclear test some time back). The point of relevance is that if we ever decide to end our unilateral moratorium on testing, the international reactions can be no worse if we complete this deal than if we forego it.

Either ways the ball is in our court….

Nice Article..Excellent work done..

Can you please eloborate this

“”Nuclear fuel that will be monitored at each level end to end and the spent fuel will be taken back to US so that India doesnt use it as raw material to manufacture more bombs.”"

What is the form of fuel after we use it??

Thanks in advance

But all the benefits listed above to India, have nothing to do with nuclear deal directly/indirectly, unless and until US relates the both explicitly, and the very fact that US relates the benefits to nuclear deal means, there is a lot more US stands to gain from the deal !

I dont think there is any need to play second fiddle to US. Outsourcing to India started from US and Europe, inspite of India not having signed NPT/CTBT.
Globaly economy/politics/Indian importance/talent would force US to give most of the benefits listed above even without the nuclear deal. US will have no other way, else US would be the loser. So I dont think we have to link OTHER benefits to nuclear deal.

As I said, if US really wants to sell nuclear fuel/technology to India, let it just “”sell”" it to us, we will pay whatever the money and purchase it (like F-16s or Boeings) and the matter should end there. Just like the way we have been doing business with the Russians.

Instead if US starts laying this and that conditions, let them keep the fuel themselves. It really doesnt make any difference to India as far as practical power generation is concerned.

US is pushing for the deal because they stand to gain more on it, and we should actually be making use of their needs! Let us remember that US is not doing any ‘favor’ to us, there are billions of dollars tied to this deal. We should be wise before spending so much of money!

http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/Tellis.India.Global.Power.FINAL.pdf

From 1970-78 when US sponsored NPT (Nuclear Proliferation Treaty) and its subsequent laws, it was their intent to punish India for exploding a nuclear bomb in 1974. They set a date of 1967 as criteria for inclusion in the select group. China was gleeful; as they had exploded their bomb in 1964, hence found their berth in this group automatically. So did France. To exclude India with a fifth of humanity and a bomb was a mistake. India at that time was economically weak.

For 25 years India endured its exclusion for not signing the NPT and was barred from any civilian use nuclear technology and materials. Later US politicians, to placate Pakistan, even blamed India for starting a nuclear arms race. In short, India was ignored. Although China was no better economically then, yet it was welcomed as one of the World powers.So one could think that the US administration is looking out for a new era as such..

Then economically,India will import technology and hardware from US if they are to set up nuclear plants(I heard they are planning to set up 10 large size plant in next 15 years).That means orders worth 15-25billion USD will be placed with US companies and rest goes to Europa. Fund to India will come in the form of FDI or bank loans.n return India will pay it back with goods and services export, in the same way China did it for the past 25 years. It is a win-win situation for the US lenders and US suppliers. Further expansion of business dealings on both sides will follow.

The high tech manufacturing industry is at a take off stage in India. In last 3 months, announcements by big US companies totaling $7 billion dollars investment have been made. This has gone far beyond India’s expectations. This sector together with IT services and BPO will power the US industry and businesses into higher profitability and help India accelerate its growth. Co-operation in auto parts, pharmaceuticals, R & D and defense industry cannot be ruled out. For each of these US is looking for a low cost supplier, that could be alternative to China.

On military and political benefits,US will be able to erase the cold war irritant factor from the scene. India is not politically and diplomatically aligned with US as Europe is, but India as a strategic partner in ensuring safety of sea-lanes of the Indian Ocean is very valuable. At the moment as long as US stays in Iraq and Afghanistan, the world will perceive US as a big bully. A major regional power, with a different outlook than the European and the US is needed to cool the tempers off.Forty percent of worlds’ oil and commerce passes through the Indian Ocean sea-lanes. These today are unprotected. Pirates in the Red Sea and at the Malacca Straits prey on commerce and alliance with India is going to be of utmost importance to US. Moreover they can use India as an ally against the growing influence of china in apac.

So now what will India get out of this deal????

The de-facto recognition of India as a nuclear power
Future recognition of India as a permanent UN Security Council member.
There is an urgent need in India for capital to build its infrastructure and manufacturing base. And there is only one source to get it i.e. US & Europe. US and Europe at this moment are content with sending capital to China to supply them with consumer goods. The former very cleverly had avoided exporting manufacturing technology to supply high priced, high technology capital goods to China. This component together with auto-parts, pharmaceuticals and computer hardware could herald India into big leagues in ten years and beyond. Commercial Aircraft manufacture, ship building, factories to make giant power plants, steel making plants, mining & drilling hardware, petroleum & petrochemical plant building facilities could be ultimately shared with India. The latter within ten years will have a workforce sufficiently skilled to undertake all the foregoing. It will be beneficial to US. Labor costs in India, will always stay a third of US, and European costs. That will make India an ideal candidate for this technology transfer.
India’s words will be heard in international forums like UN,WTO etc.. India could become a full member of G8..With western countries tying up with India, India’s growth will be more faster and more powerful. Will make pak rethink its policies..
Indian military is in need to diversify its sourcing of military hardware. Russia has been a very reliable source for the past 40 years. This source has to be diversified. Ultimately all military hardware will have to be produced in India. But development time in India is too long and success factor is low. This has to be speeded up. The only way at India’s disposal is buy its immediate needs and import technology to develop its own weapon system. It is a bit expensive up front but pays dividend later as India joins the select group of countries as a source of military hardware.
Opportunity of the KPO (Knowledge Process Off-shoring) is knocking at India’s door. Indian graduates of Science and Engineering will play a major role in this expansion. In about 5 years KPO Off-shoring will grow immensely. India stands to benefit most from it. Thanks to the edge, Indian science & technology graduates have established….

So.. should we think of scrapping the deal completely.. or should we work in parallel,play diplomatic games,get what we need,make adjustments a bit at the same time work on to be self sufficient…something for all of us to think about…