Lok Sabha Question No. 1436 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-29
Subject: Atomic Energy for Peaceful Purpose
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: RAMESWAR TELI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1436

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2015

## ATOMIC ENERGY FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSE

1436.  SHRI RAMESWAR TELI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the areas where atomic energy has been used for peaceful purposes in the country;
- (b) whether the Government has contemplated new areas to use the atomic energy; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  PERSONNEL,  PUBLIC  GRIEVANCES  & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH) :

- (a) Atomic Energy is being used in the country for many peaceful applications in the  areas  of  power  generation,  healthcare,  agriculture,  food  preservation, industry and research. There are 21 nuclear power plants currently operating in the country with a total installed capacity of 5780 MWe and several more are  under  construction  and  planning  stage.  In  addition  there  are  research reactors operating at Trombay and Kalpakkam which are being used for basic and  applied  research,  radioisotope  production,  testing  of  materials  and manpower  training.  The  radio-isotopes  produced  from  these  research  and power reactors are being used for radiation sterilisation of medical products, production of radiopharmaceuticals, nuclear medicine and cancer treatment. The radio-isotopes are also used for production of improved varieties of seeds in agriculture, radiation processing of food items like spices, onions, potatoes, and mangoes. Radiation technologies developed in Bhabha Atomic Research Centre  (BARC)  have  also  been  used  for  various  industrial  applications  like radiography, detecting leakage points in long natural  gas  pipelines, tracking

petroleum  pipelines,  for  assisting  dredging  operations  in  ports,  gamma  ray densitometers, radiography cameras and blood irradiators.

- (b) Yes, Sir.
- (c) Continuous  research,  development  and  deployment  of  new  and  advanced technologies for application of atomic energy have been a priority area for the Department of Atomic Energy. These programmes have been resulting in a very  large  range  of  new  applications  and  products  in  the  broad  areas indicated in answer to part (a) above. A few prominent examples are provided below:

An Advanced Heavy Water Reactor, to mainly use thorium based fuel, with advanced  passive  safety  systems,  has  been  developed.  A  Compact  High Temperature Reactor, for development of high temperature process heat for generation of Hydrogen  using water splitting reaction, has also been developed. BARC has established Sludge Hygienisation technologies where sludge  is  hygienised  due  to  inactivation  of  pathogens  by  radiation  effects, producing high quality manure for applications in agriculture. A large range of novel diagnostic and therapeutic applications of new radioisotopes have been developed. Electron Beam Accelerator technology has been extensively used leading  to  the  delivery  of  many  radiation  processed  high  performance products  in  India.  Radiation  cross  linked  wire  and  cables,  O-rings,  heat shrinkable  materials  are  some  of  the  important  products  that  have  been developed.  Some  of  the  main  industries  in  which  electron  beam  has  been used in India are mentioned below.

- a) Cable and electrical insulation manufacturers
- b) Heat shrinkable product manufacturers
- c) Plastic recycling industry
- d) Diamond industry

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