Nuclear Energy: Technology From Hell

The people of Kudankulam, Jaitapur, Mithivirdi, Gorakhpur, Jaduguda are waging determined struggles against Government of India plants to set up a string of nuclear parks across the country with imported/indigenous nuclear reactors, and also several new uranium mines.

The Prime Minister, India’s top atomic scientists and leading intellectuals are deriding the protestors as being anti-development. They are claiming that nuclear energy is a cheap, green, clean and safe solution to our future energy needs, and is our gateway to a prosperous future.

This book examines these claims in detail. In reality, nuclear power is very expensive. Neither is it green and the solution to the global warming crisis. But the biggest problems with nuclear energy are the safety issues associated with it–the deathly radioactive pollution of the environment caused by leakage of radiation from the mines and nuclear reactors, the as yet intractable problem of safe storage of high level wastes and the potential for catastrophic accidents. For these reasons, nuclear energy was already on the decline the world over, the Fukushima disaster has sent it into a tailspin. Many countries have begun reconsidering / reversing their nuclear energy programs, for alternate and more sustainable ways of meeting their energy needs. Yet, the Indian government continues to pursue its deathly nuclear power dream.

Inspite of the growing strength of the people’s movement against nuclear energy in India, the government of the country is working fast towards promotion of nuclear energy as a solution to country’s future energy needs and is embarking on a massive nuclear energy expansion programme. Against the said background, the present book endeavours to examine the issue in detail. Analysing the claims of nuclear energy being safe, cheap and green, the book reviews the global nuclear energy scenario, look at India’s nuclear energy programme, assesses the true economic costs of nuclear electricity, discusses the safety and other issues, and finally arguing against the promotion of nuclear energy, it suggests suitable and sustainable alternatives. Written in a simple language and lucid style the book should be an equal attraction for the lay reader and those who are technically concerned with this topical issue.