The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Sunday stressed on the importance of civil nuclear energy projects to meet the energy requirements of the country.

Addressing the concluding ceremony of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations at the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, the Prime Minister called for private investments in scientific research.

“I am convinced that nuclear energy will play an important role in our quest for a clean and environmentally-friendly energy mix to fuel our development process,” Dr Singh said.

The Prime Minister's remarks come close on the heels of Ms Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government's decision to scrap the 6,000-MW nuclear power generation project in Haripur in the East Midnapore district of the State.

“We are in the process of expanding our civil nuclear energy programme.

“Even as we do so, we have to ensure that the use of nuclear energy in India meets the highest safety standards.

“This is a matter on which, there can be no compromise,” Dr Singh said.

Private Investment and Patents

Urging the private sector to “contribute significantly” in spheres of research and development, Dr Singh lamented the fact that the number of patents filed by Indians were very low compared with other developed nations or developing nations.

He called for closer linkages between the academia and industry and a seamless transfer of knowledge from “laboratory to the shop floor”

“We must encourage original thought and innovation and ensure that innovators are rewarded. This will create a virtuous cycle of innovation and reward,” the Prime Minister said.

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