India’s fast-growing economy leads to an increased demand for energy. However, the rapid growth has been matched by a rise in electricity consumption. The government of India believes that nuclear power is the cheapest and cleanest energy available and should be promoted as an important option for meeting its energy demands. Nuclear power is also important for alleviating poverty and bringing about prosperity in India.
Rise in Energy Demand: India has always had this need to increase its energy supply. The government was looking for what it could use for energy. When the threat of nuclear war became real, and oil prices were on a steady rise. The nuclear program became the perfect alternative.
Decrease in Energy Supply: Energy supply has been negatively affected by changing weather patterns. As water reservoirs decrease due to lower precipitation and increased evaporation, capacity for electricity production from hydropower and other water-intensive generation technologies may decline. Spending on subsidies is likely to remain at an elevated level over the medium term and may lead to a change in macroeconomic balance sheets.
Development: Recognizing its need to sustain economic growth and development, the government is exploring every option possible to meet the rising demand for energy. Nuclear energy has emerged as one such alternate supply source that may supplement as well as replace conventional fossil fuel sources.
Foreign Policy Nexus: It seems that only countries with energy surpluses are moving in the direction of expanding nuclear power. Countries like France, the US, Russia and Japan have not minded being reliant on nuclear energy for meeting their energy needs. Even in the EU, a number of countries do not mind depending on nuclear energy for meeting power demands.
Energy availability: Although India is the fourth largest energy consumer in the world, it continues to remain energy-poor. In 2013, India’s population without access to electricity was estimated to be a staggering 237 million. Thus to provide electricity for 24 hour as envisioned under the Saubhagya scheme, nuclear energy would play an significant role.
Climate change: Nuclear energy is a critical component of the low-carbon energy mix for India and one that will play a foundational role in meeting India’s future climate objectives, as illustrated in the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Nuclear waste: Nuclear waste is the most visible result of nuclear energy, and is one of the biggest reasons why people from all over the world are opposing it. The issue of disposal has been plaguing entire communities for years now and neither have a good solution nor do they seem to be close to any. The mismanagement and lack of focus on the nuclear waste just make things worse.
Displacement: Building nuclear reactors, it requires huge amounts of land. This would displace local communities who may not want to leave. Further, it is not easy to rehabilitate them and provide them with appropriate compensation. Environment: Fossil fuels are a major contributor to carbon emissions throughout the world. Nuclear energy is widely believed to be an alternative to fossil fuels. However, the process of mining required to build nuclear energy plants is highly harmful to the environment.
Hazard risk: Nuclear energy has always been a debatable topic, for the simple reason that it is a non-renewable energy source, and at the same time a potential hazard. It s a hot discussion for scientists, politicians, and environmentalists - all of whom have their own views and fears in regards to nuclear power.
Health risks: Nuclear energy generation is fraught with risks of radiation, which can have adverse health effects, making a mockery of the myth that nuclear energy is safe. Many people feel that nuclear power generation is unsafe and poses a major threat to human life due to its potential for industrial accidents, which can lead to serious public health problems.
