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Downplaying the media reports that nuclear plants across the nations have been put under high alert, Atomic Energy Commission chief Anil Kakodkar has mentioned that the nuclear programmes of the nation will continue functioning as usual.
Kakodkar, while addressing the meida in Kolkata, said: "The country's programme will continue in accordance with the national needs or in an autonomous manner. We are talking about international civil nuclear cooperation and whatever we get out of civil nuclear cooperation that will be under IAEA safeguards. So, we promised that whatever will come from outside will be used for civilian purposes and it will have nothing to do with our other three stages or strategic programme, which will happen on our own strength."
Kakodkar said that the nuclear plant would not be set up in Haripur in West Bengal's East Midnapore district if people are against it.
"We will try to have the problem settled amicably. But we will not do anything against the wishes of the people. If they don't want the plant to come up there, it won't come up," he added.
The contract for setting up the nuclear station in Haripur was awarded to Russian Government’s Atomstroyexport by the Central Government on October 16. NPCIL expects to kick off the construction work during 2011.
