Please find below an essay i wrote for CSR essay contest. managed to bag a consolation prize.
India has made phenomenal economic progress in last 2
decades. The economic reforms in 1991 unleashed the entrepenuerial spirits
which lead to upliftment of millions out of povery. Today we stand amidst the
fastest growing nations in world. Despite our phenomenal growth we still havent
been able to address the problems of infrastructure.
Power
generation has failed to keep pace with rapid economic growth.This has widened
the energy deficit. Over 50% of india’s households lack electric supply.
Current power generation is 1.7 lakh MW of which 70% is generated using fossil
fuels. By 2020 consumption demand is expected to be double the current demand.
There is an urgent need to ramp up electricity generation.
India’s
economic growth has been fuelled by high growth in service sector.Now service
sector growth has saturated and government is focusing on bringing about growth
in manufacture sector. Growth in manufacture sector will lead to greater demand
on power supply. Power sector needs to grow at a rate which leads to narrowing
the deficit and support a double digit growth of economy. To achieve this, new
sources of power generation from renewable and non conventional sources of
energy needs to be explored.
Currently over 70% of India’s crude
oil is imported from middle east and west asia. This dependence on outside
world threatens India’s energy security. The coal reserves India are of low
quality and can’t be put to efficient use in thermal power generation.Apart
from that most of our natural resources lie under dense forests. Environmental
concerns have led to a slow down in mineral explorations and it is unlikely
that India will be able to rapidly increase its fossil fuel productions.
Another option that has been
explored is hydel power. Jawaharlal Nehru hailed dams as temples of modern India. Hydel power generation requires
damming rivers . Most of rivers in India are inter state rivers and multi
purpose river projects have lead to numerous river water disputes. Dams have
also lead to displacement to the tribals and poor with no significant relief
and rehabilitation measures. In this scenario , solar and nuclear seem to be
the only feasible options to power indias growth.
Government has launched the
jawaharlal nehru solar mission with a target of producing 20 GW of solar power
by 2022. India being a tropical country has enormous potential for solar
energy. However solar technology is still in primitive stage and is costly for
a poor country like India. It lacks the ability to bridge the widening energy
deficit in India. India needs an energy
source that can generate electricity at a rate that it exceeds the growth in
demand and provide a surplus which could be shared with its energy starved
negihbours.
India
has 25% of World Thorium which
is capable of producing three lakh Mega Watts for three hundred years.
Hence nuclear power is one source that has the potential to meet the challenges
thrown up by India. Nuclear power is a compact source of energy requiring lower
quantites of fuel in comparison to coal based thermal power station. It is
environmentally benign and its green house gas emissions are comparable to that
of wind power. India’s nuclear power programme was charted out by visionary
scientists Dr Homi bhabha keeping in view the limited urnaium and abundant
thorium resources that India possessed. India’s first nuclear power plant came
into operation in 1969. However the nuclear apartheid imposed by world on India
lead to a slow progress on its peaceful civil nuclear programme.
In 2008, India managed to came out
nuclear apartheid following multiple rounds of negotiation with US on a civil
nuclear deal. This has opened up an opportunity to make up for the lost time
and make progress on its nuclear programme. However keeping in view the mammoth
challenge lying ahead, it was unwise to wait for indegenous nuclear technology
to mature and meet the demands. Hence India is now pursuing a approach
comprising of two dimensions
a)
Encourage foreign reactor technology use
b)
Support India’s indegenous 3 stage programme
In this context, Indian government has negotiated deals with
several countries on nuclear cooperation. India now aims to increase its
nuclear power production from 4500 MW to 64000 MW by 2032. Today the world is
vying for space in India’s vast nuclear market. Rapid economic growth in last 2
decades has provided it with enough finances to invest in capital intensive
sectors like nuclear power. Despite being capital intensive, in long run its
cost works out to be comparable to that of coal.
Nuclear
power however is an issue that needs to be dealt with cautiously . It is a
double edged sword, especially in a densely populated country like India. The
recent incidents of nuclear meltdowns in japan has created a fear among the
people. Lack of effort on part of government to educate and enlighten the
masses about nuclear power has further comlpicated the issue. The civil society
has come out openly opposing nuclear power. They fear the repercussions of a
possible radiation leak. However indian nuclear scientists have succesfully
managed to run nuclear plants for over 4 decades without any major
accidents. Every technology has its own
pros and cons. Even the electricity which can lighten up our lives has the
potential to end our life. So there is a need to weigh the pros and cons rather
than look at it as an issue of black and white.
Lack of
transparency in the way organisations responsible for running nuclear power are
run further deepens the mistrust among people. Government needs to take steps
to make the organisations like NPCIL more transparent accountable. In this
regard, the government’s move to make AERB an independent and autonomous body
is commendable. Another area of concern is the fear that indegenous nuclear
power programme would be neglected. This fear is very much valid. Our
scientists have achieved phenomenal success despite the restricted environment
they were forced to work in pre 2008. Today India’s scientists have pioneered
the fast breeder technology and optimum use of thorium fuel cycle. No effort
has been made by government to harness the intellectual potential of our
scientists in the proposed new phase of expansion. Instead of focusing on joint
research and development with other nations, we are seeking direct
transplantation of foreign technology.
In this era of computerisation and
digitalisation, the slogan of roti kapda makan has transformed into bijli,
sadak , pani. Electricity which once was a luxury has become a necessity now.
This should have a bearing on everyone. The previleged few must take cognisance
of this and make efficient use of electricity. Government must encourage energy
efficiency through star rating, awards etc. Our electric transmission and distribution
systems have been caught up in cobwebs of time. It is hightime that modern
smart grid technologies are put to use. The rampant corruption and
maladministration in state electricity boards need to be set right. Populist
schemes invovling distribution of free power leads to unsustainable use of
resources and needs to be done away with.
India’s foreign policy is rooted in
its tradition of non alignment. In order to stand by it, there is a need to
avoid over dependence on outside support for energy resources. Therefore India
needs to take every measure to diversify its options both in terms of resources
and countries. For
balanced energy mix, energy independence and security, climate change and
avoiding green house gases, sustainable development, nuclear power must be
pursued. Along with nuclear we
need to continue supporting research and development in other areas like wind
and solar energy. With the rapid pace of urbanisation and penetration of
benefits of growth deeper into the society, it is inevitable that energy demand
will rise exponentially.
The rapid pace of urbanisation and
penetration of benefits of growth deeper into the society, it is inevitable
that energy demand will rise exponentially. In the current scenario, it is only
nuclear power that has the capability to meet such a challenge. However this is
not to say that nuclear is the only way, we must keep our mind open to any new
development in field of power generation in future and harness new innovations
to our advantage. Therefore while India goes big on nuclear it must not lose
sight of other potential contenders which have the potential to fulfill the
growing demand of indians.
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