Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has strongly opposed the central government’s proposal to allow private foreign firms into India’s nuclear energy sector. Chavan, who served as the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office during the signing of the Indo-US nuclear deal in 2008, emphasized that the nuclear sector is not only about electricity generation but also has critical strategic dimensions. He asserted that the Congress party would oppose any move to permit foreign private entities into this sensitive industry.
The government’s proposed amendments aim to attract private and foreign investments to achieve a target of developing 100 GW of nuclear energy capacity by 2047, with an immediate goal of 20 GW by 2032. The Finance Minister recently highlighted the necessity of these amendments, aligning with India’s commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.
Chavan’s concerns revolve around the strategic risks of involving foreign private firms in the nuclear sector, which has traditionally been under strict government control. He reiterated that the Department of Atomic Energy operates under the Prime Minister’s Office, underscoring the sector’s importance to national security.
As the government moves forward with its plans to amend existing laws to facilitate private and foreign investment in nuclear energy, opposition voices like Chavan’s caution against potential risks to national security and strategic autonomy.
Source: Web Team, C6N
