Govt rejects proposal to set up N-reactor at IIT-K

Kanpur: In a disappointment to the officials of IIT Kanpur, the Department of Atomic Energy has rejected the college's proposal of setting up of a small nuclear reactor in its campus citing security reasons.

However, the officials of IIT Kanpur said they were trying to clear the doubts and will try to convince the Department of Atomic Energy at the 'International Nuclear Meet' in November.

Director of IIT Kanpur Prof Sanjay Govind Dhande said on Monday that the college asked for a permission from the Department of Atomic Energy, Mumbai to set up a nuclear reactor for M.Tech students, who are studying Nuclear Engineering.

"We have asked for the permission from the Department of Atomic Energy, Mumbai, for a small reactor in the campus. But due to security reasons as cited by the Department it has been rejected," he said.

He said the college was hopeful of a positive reply after India signed the 123 agreement with the US.

According to the college officials, since the last 35 years the college has been providing Nuclear Engineering course to 15 students each year but they were able to give only theory classes.

"The college has been giving only theory classes to the students. Due to the lack of a nuclear reactor facility in the college, the students are devoid of any practical training.

So the students from our college are not as successful compared to students from other foreign colleges," Prof Sanjay Dhande said.

He added the Department has not only cited security problems, but has also mentioned about the lack of nuclear fuel in the country.