Briefings on Nuclear Technology in India
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Briefings on Nuclear Technology In India By Dr. P. K. Iyengar Retd. Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission May 2009 1 CONTENTS FOREWORD (by M. V. Kamath) 3 - 6 Preface 7 - 10 What is science 11 - 13 Introduction to Nuclear Science & Technology 14 - 31 Indian effort in nuclear science 32 - 41 Nuclear Testing 42 - 46 Non Proliferation 47 - 54 Accelerators 55 - 62 Atomic Energy Regulatory Board 63 - 64 Administrative Reforms in the Department of Atomic Energy 65 - 80 Conclusion 81 - 85 Reminiscences 86 - 90 Appendices (a) Milestones of the department of atomic energy 91 - 95 (b) Significance of the milestones 96 - 103 (c) Non proliferation treaty 104 – 107 (d) Writings on Indo-US nuclear agreement by the author 108 - 152 (e) Tribute to Homi Bhabha 153 - 155 2 FOREWORD Few scientists one knows of, have gone out of their way to educate the public – especially those involved in making policies at the government level – on what nuclear energy is all about and how it is produced. One might begin at the beginning and ask what the basic principles of scientific research are, how they are developed and what the methodology of converting science into technology is. Equally relevantly, how can one sensitise the administration, not to speak of the average citizen, in supporting science and technology. The important issues, these, but who has the time or the desire to explore them? One has, therefore, to be thankful to Dr. P. K. Iyengar, retired Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), for producing this monograph that is as informative as it is educative. This work is divided into nine chapters. The first one discusses what science really is. The second introduces the reader to nuclear science and technology. The third progressively deals with Indian effort in developing nuclear science and the astounding amount of organisational effort involved. The fourth refers to nuclear testing, a somewhat controversial subject. The fifth addresses itself to the problem of nuclear non-proliferation, yet another controversial subject, but which Dr. Iyengar deals with commendable objectivity. The last three chapters concern administrative reforms that may not command the readers’ attention, but for that reason are not necessarily to be considered redundant. To give one an idea of what the monograph is all about, it would be pertinent to quote some aspects of it, even at random: • No country can ignore science or an independent growth of technology if it has to sustain the rate of growth as expected by the general public. 3 • The voluntary moratorium practised by India since 1974 was broken in 1998, probably because the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) seemed to have a universal acceptance and India would have been pressurized to sign it. • History shows that India did not work for the bomb, but the infrastructure created at Trombay for the introduction of nuclear power stations in India automatically gave India the capability to make the nuclear weapon, if political decision was forthcoming. • The manpower generated at Trombay is exceedingly competitive to the rest of the world, and is itself an asset to the nation. • A country can declare itself a weapon country when it has an arsenal in which all the devices stored are certified as far as their yield is concerned. • The circumstances in which India tested its first nuclear explosive in 1974 were forced on it by the Indo-Pak war by which Bangladesh became an independent nation and many advanced countries had cast their neutrality to support the military regime of Pakistan. Dr. Iyengar is understandably appalled at the deliberate efforts made by developed countries for blocking knowledge of nuclear science to India and promulgating restrictions. Such efforts, according to Dr. Iyengar, “are contrary to human dignity, especially for a nation with an ancient history during which no Indian ruler ever invaded a foreign land”. But why is India taking an isolationist view 4 on the NPT as well as on safeguards? With understandable feeling writes Dr. Iyengar: “(It) is a direct result of centuries of colonial rule and our subjugation to the dictates of a foreign power … Fifty years of managing a nuclear programme, while suffering the humiliation of discrimination in the international fora has not weakened this country’s scientists from upholding a tradition”. And he rightly asks: “An organization in Geneva has sat for the last fifty years as the Disarmament Committee and discussed the problem of nuclear disarmament for several decades and yet we do not see any agreement on the part of the weapons’ countries to give up nuclear weapons. Under these circumstances should India tie up its future?” The answer should be obvious. India has its self-respect and self-interest to defend. It is against this backdrop that Dr. Iyengar is opposed to the 123 Agreement. His reasons are clear and obvious. He says: “The Opposition to the 123 Agreement is not for a lack of faith in the US, with whom we would like to have the best of relationships, especially strategic relationship, but in that process we cannot forsake the rights of the future generations in this country.” It is in this connection that the reader should give particular attention to the detailed analysis of the 123 Agreement towards the end of the book, which is a brilliant expose of US intentions. If for nothing else, the sub-chapter should be a must reading for all patriotic Indians. Dr. Iyengar, in summing up all his arguments adds: “These are weighty reasons why the Nuclear Deal is not in the national interest.” Rightly put. This monograph spells out the reasons why the Deal should be scrapped. Dr. Iyengar needs to be highly commended for his fearlessness in propounding the case against the Agreement in the face of official submission to US interests. One can only say that he speaks for most self-respecting Indians. 5 The early chapters dealing with science do not necessarily make easy reading, hard though Dr. Iyengar tries. But, taken as a whole, the monograph calls for attention and deep thought. What is at stake is the future of India in a turbulent world. M. V. Kamath Distinguished Journalist 6 PREFACE One of the areas of successful development in science and technology in India after independence is the area of atomic energy. Homi Bhabha, a renowned scientist of Nehru’s days and the first Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission had a vision. It was not only to develop reactors for nuclear power and the atom bomb but also to broadly bring India’s manpower in science and technology to a level that it will achieve what Nehru called industrial development leading to societal progress. Thus the economic well being of the nation was intertwined with development of indigenous technology. The large size, the creative manpower and the past history, all pointed towards an ability to leapfrog into a new era in as short a time as possible. With Nehru’s support, Homi Bhabha developed the basic requirements including manpower, indigenous technology and venturing spirit to innovate and build the most modern facilities in the country. Unfortunately, after Bhabha and Nehru, though the traditions were maintained successfully for several decades, the public at large were disappointed because of the lack of spectacular change on the way of living of the common man. This is accentuated by more people getting under the poverty line with the enormous increase in population. In the last few decades India has come a long way in being able to build nuclear power stations based on indigenous infrastructure in industries and material resources. It has also led to more manpower being generated with high technical skills which has helped many new ventures like the information technology. General public however, have not understood the difficulties of turning a backward country like India into a technologically advanced country. Steps are very steep and the way to climb was shown by Dr. Bhabha. He discussed this in his famous lecture to the International Council of Scientific Union, in January 1966 and reproduced in the magazine “Science”.(1) For the general public a lucid account of how Bhabha performed this miracle is brought out in a book “Bhabha and his Magnificent Obsessions” by G.Venkataraman, a publication that costs very little and printed in India distributed by Orient Longmans.(2) The new approach which Bhabha took is 7 again emphasised by Dr. Balaram, the Director of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in a recent issue of “Current Science”.(3) Present discussions in public on the need for India to join the other advanced nations of the world to contribute to and benefit from the nuclear club is a current issue. It has become necessary to discuss in public fora the need for preserving our sovereign rights in this field. Heated discussions go on in Parliament especially after the Indo-US draft agreement was made public. I have been a student of Homi Bhabha in the early fifties and have worked in the field of atomic energy at Trombay and retired as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. I have experienced many critical moments in the history of atomic energy which have instilled a sense of loyalty to this country and to our perceptions for growth. In this connection, I felt it necessary to share some of my feelings with those who care to understand the history of the growth of nuclear energy in this country. I have, therefore, attempted to bring out a monograph which might help in elucidating the basic principles of scientific research, the way to grow them, the methodology of converting science into technology and sensitize the administration and the common man into the right approach for supporting science and technology.