NUCLEAR ENERGY: TORCH  BEARER OF THE FUTERE GENERATION

Through past century, the world has witnessed gigantic strides from top to bottom in every field of science and technology at a par with the exploding population, pouring manifolds of demands. Basic amenities like food infrastructure energy output has dipped with that rapid pace, while the latter has been playing a  key role in elevating the human habitation from time immemorial. As the economy is booming and per-capita is on rise, demand for energy consumption increases with exponential peak in years to come being the engine for further sustainable growth.

Ironically, with these advancements we are unable to  cater the need with purely shrinking resources(fossil fuels)and a few renewable sources(air ,water, solar etc.) at the early teen stages of development, when the global energy demands rise by 2.4% yearly ,if IAEA sources are  to be believed. Nuclear energy has dawned as a suitable option heralding the alternative explorative sources for past couple of decades, as safe, economically profitable, clean, reliable and efficient form of energy. It’s produced through sophisticated mechanism by the process of fusion and fission chain reactions in reactors, the energy being emitted from the radioactive disintegration of the nucleus. Energy is and will continue to be a primary engine for economic development. Energy is central to achieving the goals of sustainable development. Both quality and quantity are important. Reliance on human power, draft animals and traditional fuels cannot sustain the same level of economic activity as ready access to refined petroleum products. Over years it has expanded its proliferation to human civilization; serving various purposes such as treatment of the incurable diseases, bridging the gap to access of purified drinking water through desalination, sustainably developed food crops for draught, pest resistant thereby  positively leaping  food production, protection of land etc. Human races have held their belief so strongly, that more than 450 active reactors are serving the same purpose around the globe producing 370GW energy.

Our country being energy deficient, presently have some odd 44% of people without access to energy. Presently, only 3% of India’s energy needs are met from nuclear sources with active  reactors in Kaiga, Kakrapar etc. In coming years, to meet the aspirations of people today and those future generations we need to leapfrog technological gaps brought about by several years of colonial exploitation. Nearly half of the energy production depends on burning of the coal, primitive source of environmental pollutions, hazards. So, we need increased use of nuclear energy to tarnish the reliance on fossil fuel, which are limited reserves.

It demands high technological excellence, and a challenging zeal to work on the line of disaster at any moment in case of negligence. But, that is the need of the hour, inbred safety culture, professionalism, and discipline at nuclear plants with highest safety standards that is always adhered to strictly. It’s the best option in long term perspective, whereas other forms of renewable energy are stop gap solutions.